Marikina River near ‘Ondoy-level’ as 3,000 families evacuated

The water level at the Marikina River is rising so high and so fast that it is like Tropical Storm Ondoy (Typhoon Ketsana) all over again, according to Marikina Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro.

Teodoro said that based on the latest report, the water level was already at 20.5 meters, just 2.5 meters shy of the river's water level at the height of Ondoy, which killed more than 700 people and caused damage worth billions of pesos nine years ago in 2009.

"Parang Ondoy itong taas nito... tuluy-tuloy ang malakas na pag-ulan," Teodoro said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

The mayor said that the situation is so similar to that during Ondoy that local authorities are now implementing the very same protocol they implemented nine years ago.

At 1 p.m., the water level was already at 15 meters and by 9 p.m., it had already gone past 20 meters, prompting officials to sound the third alarm and start the forced evacuation of residents living near the river.

Teodoro also stressed the amount of rainfall dumped during the entire day, measured at 140 to 160 mm. in just five hours.

"Napakaiksi ng oras na iyon. Tuluy-tuloy ang pag-ulan kaya umabot ng 20.5 meters [ang water level]. Pati lugar na hindi binabaha ng maraming taon na, binabaha ngayon," he said, adding that "almost the entire city" has been affected by floods.

So far, more than 3,000 families, or around 14,000 individuals, have sought refuge inside 18 evacuation centers throughout the city.

Electricity has already been cut off in the heavily affected areas.

Teodoro appealed to the public and private organizations and companies to donate not only dry clothes and food, but also "water assets" like boats that can be used for rescue operations. — MDM, GMA News