Classes suspended in Obando

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OBANDO, Bulacan, Philippines—Classes in all levels at public and private schools in this coastal town were suspended on Tuesday after heavy rains and high tide from Manila Bay flooded several villages.

Felicisima Mungcal, chief of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council (PDRRMC) chief, said Obando Mayor Orencio Gabriel ordered the suspension of classes because heavy rains since Monday night inundated villages and schools in the municipality, especially those in low areas.

Raul Agustin, senior flood officer at the PDRRMC, said the Ipo Dam started releasing water Tuesday morning after the reservoir breached its critical level of 101 meters above sea level due to heavy rains in Bulacan since Monday.

He said a floodgate was opened and it was releasing water at 48.5 cubic meters per second.

But Agustin said the water release was minimal and would not significantly increase water levels in the province’s waterways.

The water level at Angat Dam, located upstream of Ipo Dam in Norzagaray town, was recorded at 186.05 meters above sea level on Tuesday morning, still below its 212-meter spilling level, the PDRRMC  said.