113 families on Marikina riverside move to evacuation centers

MANILA, Philippines—A total of 113 families living along the Marikina River trooped to different evacuation centers set up by the city government after the river was put under Alert Level 2.

The evacuation centers include the Bulelak Gym, with 86 families; H. Bautista Elementary School, with 25 families; and Nangka Elementary School, with two families.

In an advisory issued by Marikina City’s public information office (PIO), the water level has reached to 16.1 meters above sea level as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, prompting authorities to sound the second alarm.

As early as 7:17 a.m., the alarm was activated at different locations in Marikina—Marikina Bridge, Tumana Bridge and Balubad in Barangay (village) Nangka—as the water level of the Marikina River reached 15 meters above sea level, or Alert Level 1, or first alarm, for which a short range siren was sounded.

The second alarm was activated when the water reached 16 meters.

Once the water level reaches 18 meters, the city will begin implementing the forced evacuation on all affected areas.

The Marikina PIO also advised motorists and commuters that the following roads in Barangay Concepcion Dos are impassable to light vehicles due to flooding—Olive St., Katipunan Ave., Aquamarine St. and Tangerine St.