Marikina River water level continues to go up

The water level at Marikina River continued to increase on Thursday morning after overnight rains from Typhoon Ulysses.

At 6 a.m., the water level reached 20.7 meters, according to Marikina City Rescue 161.

The city earlier raised the third alarm.

Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro earlier told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview that the water level was at 19.9 meters at 5 a.m., nearing the 21.5 meters it reached during Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009.

Teodoro also said they were taken by surprise by the rise in water level.

"Talagang hindi namin inaasahan na ganito karami ang ulan na dala ni Ulysses," Teodoro said.

At 3:18 a.m., the water level was at 18 meters in the Marikina River, prompting the raising of the third alarm. This means forced evacuation of residents living nearby. —KG, GMA News