Magat Dam keeps 1 spill gate open as water dips to 'normal' level

The Magat Dam continued to release water with one gate still open at two meters, but reservoir's water level is no longer at its spilling elevation level, PAGASA said on Sunday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, PAGASA’s Oyie Pagulayan said that the water level in Magat Dam was recorded at 192.26 meters as of 12 noon.

“As of 12 noon po, ang elevation po ng Magat Dam ay nasa 192.26 m. At sa kasalukuyan meron po siyang isang gate na alng na open at two meters,” she said.

The dam's spilling elevation or the normal high water level of the dam is set at 193 meters [above mean sea level], she noted.

But Pagulayan said that they cannot tell when the dam spill gate will be closed because it depends on the amount of water that is being added to the dam over time.

She also noted that closing the gate of the dam is not as simple as closing a door.

“Kapag halimbawa po medyo, maliit na lamang po 'yung inflow na pumapasok po doon sa reservoir puwede pong i-taper ito,” she said.

“Hindi naman po biglang aalisin, so pagbawas po, unti-unti po. Mechanical po ito, ang pagbukas po at pagsara. Medyo hindi po kagaya ng mga ordinaryong pinto ito,” she added.

In a 9 a.m. advisory, PAGASA advised municipalities in Isabela that are likely to be affected by the continuous release of water from the dam, including:

• Ramon
• San Mateo
• Aurora
• Cabanutuan
• Luna
• Reina Mercedes
• Burgos
• Gamu
• Naguilian

In light of this threat, PAGASA advised concerned residents and local disaster risk reduction and management council to maintain necessary actions.

According to PAGASA, light rains are expected over the areas around the Magat Dam.

Several towns in Cagayan and Isabela were flooded as Magat Dam opened several gates and released water due to heavy rainfall Typhoon Ulysses dumped around the the area. —LBG, GMA News