La Mesa Dam on high alert for possible overflow

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MANILA, Philippines – La Mesa dam continues to be in “Code Red” alert Wednesday evening to warn residents downstream of a possible overflow as its water level continues to rise, the state weather bureau said.

The rains brought by a Low Pressure Area (LPA) have increased the amount of water flowing into the La Mesa reservoir from its many tributaries in Bulacan, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) hydrologist Edgar Dela Cruz said in a phone interview with Inquirer.net.

As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, the water level at the La Mesa dam was 79.86 meters. It increased 8 centimeters from the 79.78 meters recorded at 5 p.m., Dela Cruz said. The spilling level of La Mesa dam is 80.15 meters, meaning there was still a 0.29 meter difference from the current water level.

Dela Cruz said that a “Code Red” alert was raised by the dam management when the water level reached 79.60 meters “in order for people downstream to be alert on the possibility of an overflow from the dam.”

He added that La Mesa dam does not have gates like the other major dams in Luzon so it cannot actively open gates to reduce the amount of water whenever rains are expected.

Pagasa weather forecaster Nikos Penaranda said in a separate interview that there could still be rains Thursday as the Southwest monsoon induces “periods of sunshine and periods of rainshowers.”

He said that the southwest monsoon was at its peak during the months of June and July meaning there would still be scattered rains throughout the country.

La Mesa Dam authorities said local officials should prepare to evacuate residents in low-lying areas near the Tullahan River due to possible floods.

Possible affected areas include Fairview, Malabon and Valenzuela City.