‘Wake up, move away from Marikina River’—disaster official

Residents hang on to a rope as they pass strong currents along a flooded area in Marikina City on Thursday. AP

MANILA, Philippines—A top government  disaster official in a frantic  appeal early Thursday morning called on  the deeply asleep residents of Marikina City to wake up and flee the fast-rising water from  the swollen Marikina River.

“Please wake up now and move away from the low lying areas along Marikina River including Tumana and Provident (Village),” Mahar Lagmay, director of government’s Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), said on his Twitter at about 2:30 a.m.

A siren continuously sounded  for minutes.

The water level in upper Marikina River rose to 28.14 meters, much higher than the previous days levels, said Lagmay.

“Tataas ang tubig ng Marikina River, mas mataas kaysa kahapon at noong isang araw. Lahat ng nasa tabing ilog ng Marikina move now,” he said, noting the river was fast rising.

He said residents had up to two hours to flee.

As of 4:34 a.m., the water level at Marikina River’s Sto Niño station was at 20.22 meters, the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office said.

Vice Mayor Jose Fabian Cadiz of Marikina also raised the alarm over the expected rise of Marikina River, Malacañang said in an advisory.

“Residents are advised to evacuate to designated centers,” it said.

A forced evacuation had been enforced.

List of evacuation centers in Marikina City

Originally posted: 2:49 am | Thursday, August 9th, 2012