Cagayan River reaches above critical level; widespread flooding possible

Parts of Cagayan River reached the above critical level on Sunday morning, and widespread flooding is possible, PAGASA said.

In its 7 a.m. hydrological forecast, PAGASA said the upper, middle and lower portions of Cagayan River and their tributaries have reached the above critical level.

The forecast is that the water level will continue to rise, which may lead to widespread flooding.

PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains which may be intense at times will be experienced on Sunday over mainland Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region, and Kalayaan Islands due to Tropical Depression Vicky and the tail-end of a frontal system (Shear Line).

Light to moderate and at times heavy rains meanwhile will be felt over Babuyan Islands, Metro Manila, the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and MIMAROPA.

Six gates of Magat Dam in Isabela were still open on Sunday at 6 a.m., data from PAGASA showed.

At 9 a.m., only four gates were still open.

On Saturday, six gates of Magat Dam in Isabela were opened to release water after heavy rains poured.

The water in Magat Dam’s reservoir reached 191.60 meters at 6 a.m. on Saturday, which was just a few meters away from the dam’s spilling level of 193 meters.

On Sunday at 6 a.m., the water level was at 191.32 meters, and this went down to 191.21 meters at 9 a.m.

The release of water from Magat Dam during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) in November was seen as having contributed to the cause of widespread flooding in Cagayan and Isabela. —KG, GMA News