La Mesa Dam on red alert as water nears spilling level

La Mesa Dam in Quezon City was placed on red alert Sunday after its water level neared the spilling level of 80.15 meters. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said La Mesa's water level was at 79.51 meters. A GMA News tweet quoted La Mesa headworks manager Engineer Teddy Angeles as saying the water level had reached 79.51 meters as of 5 a.m. PAGASA also noted the 79.51-meter level was higher than the 79.42 meters as of Saturday. Last July 23, PAGASA also placed the La Mesa Dam on red alert early Monday as the water level there neared the spilling level, at 79.52 meters. "Sa ganoong water level naka-status sa red alert ang warning ng La Mesa operations (At this water level, we have to raise a red alert warning in the dam's operations)," PAGASA hydrologist Gine Nievares said last July 23 on dzBB radio. Nievares said that once the water level reaches 80.15 meters, the dam will overflow. Excess water from the dam is expected to flow to Tullahan River, which can potentially affect Quezon City, Valenzuela, Malabon and Navotas Cities. — LBG, GMA News