Marikina River water level still below 15 meters; 8 floodgates opened

(Screenshot from Marikina Public Information Office Facebook livestream)

MANILA, Philippines — The water level at the Marikina River has remained at just above 13 meters despite the non-stop rain in the eastern part of Metro Manila and over the mountainous area of Rizal province on Friday, reports from the city’s public information office said.

According to Marikina’s Public Information Office, the water level at the Marikina River as of 4:00 p.m. was 13.4 meters, with all eight floodgates leading to the Manggahan floodway opened.

The water level was at the same level at 3:40 p.m. Marikina’s alert system raises the first alarm when the water level reaches 15 meters, followed by 16 and 17 meters.

Residents have started monitoring the water level of the Marikina River in anticipation of possible flooding due to overnight rains over the city and Antipolo City, San Mateo, and Montalban in Rizal.

Earlier, at 1:00 p.m., the Marikina City government said it had recorded the following rainfall volume in the nearby uplands:

Mt. Campana: 3mm
Mt. Boso-Boso: 4mm
Mt. Aries : 4mm
Mt. Oro : 2mm
Nangka: 5mm

Marikina City is a flood-prone area because it is a catch basin from the mountainous areas of Rizal.  The city experienced floods in November 2020 during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, leading the local government to declare a state of calamity.

Typhoon Ondoy caused portions of the city to flood in 2008 as well.

/MUF/abc