3 dams in Luzon release water as Lando dumps heavy rains

Weather bureau PAGASA on Sunday said people living along Magat River in Cagayan Valley have been told to evacuate as the river continues to overflow.

 

GMA News' Raffy Tima said that according to the Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, three of the seven gates of Magat Dam have been opened. The dam is releasing 1,200 cubic meters of water per second. 

Richard Orendain of the PAGASA hydrometeorology division told radio dzBB that water released from Magat Dam will flow to Cagayan River, near the area of Gamu town in Isabela province.

 

"Naabisuhan na po ang mga tao along Magat River. May epekto ito sa Cagayan River, pagdating ng end point, tutuloy [ang tubig] sa Cagayan River, bandang Gamu area sa Isabela," he said.

 

Public storm warning signal number 3 is raised over Isabela.

 

Orendain also reported that water is also being released from Ambuklao and Binga dams.

 

He said four gates of Binga Dam, with openings of 4 meters each, were releasing a total of 490.5 cubic meters of water per second.

 

Ambuklao Dam's four gates have also been opened, releasing a total of 243.45 cubic meters of water per second.

 

Orendain said that water being released from the two dams will flow to San Roque Dam, which was still below four meters its spilling level as of 6 a.m.

 

Good news for Metro Manila

 

Orendain said that heavy rains spawned by Lando can be considered as a good news for residents of Metro Manila.

 

"Sa ngayon po good news nga para sa mga kababayan natin sa Metro Manila. Welcome ang pag0ulan sa water shed sa Angat Dam," he said.

 

He said that as of 6 a.m., water level at the dam was recorded at 194.63.

 

Orendain said rains dumped by the typhoon may solve the capital region's impending water supply crisis due to the El Niño phenomenon.

 

However, he said Angat Dam needs to have a water elevation of at least 212 meters by the end of the year to ensure that Metro Manila will be spared by the effects of El Niño. —ALG, GMA News