Rains force preemptive evacuations

GUTTER-LEVEL FUN The flood is only ankle-deep but it turned the street into the best playground for these boys in Makati City on Wednesday. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon “Falcon” (international name: Chan-Hom) forced local governments to order preemptive evacuations from flood-prone areas in Metro Manila on Wednesday.

In Quezon City, the disaster risk reduction and management office said 23 families from the Taniman area in Barangay Batasan Hills were advised to leave their homes and stay at the San Isidro Chapel, while 10 families in Barangay Roxas were moved to the village’s covered court.

A red flood warning was also raised for Quezon City residents along Tullahan river, as well as in Fairview, Sta. Lucia, Sta. Monica, Gulod, San Bartolome, Greater Lagro and Nagkaisahang Nayon, Novaliches Proper, Baesa and Pasong Tamo.

In Valenzuela City, 56 families in Barangay Viento Reales were asked to move to the Bartolome covered court, 12 families to Luis Francisco Subdivision, and 36 families to Tugatog Elementary School.

Around 10 a.m. Wednesday, La Mesa dam was placed on red alert as the water level reached 79.58 meters, nearing the spilling level of 80.15 meters. Jaymee T. Gamil and Kristine Felisse Mangunay