Power ordered cut off in 3 villages near Marikina River

Authorities in Marikina City on Thursday ordered power cut off to three villages at risk of being flooded by the swelling Marikina River.

 

Facing a temporary power cutoff are the villages of Malanday, Tumana, and Nangka, which are near the river, radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported.

 

The report said the cutoff aimed to prevent the chances of residents in those areas being electrocuted.

 

The city government had measured the river's water level at 20.5 meters as of 6:55 a.m., way above the critical level of 18 meters.

 

Police have also started donning life vests for possible rescue work, the report added.

 

Since 4 a.m., teams coordinated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council started the forced evacuation of areas near the river.

 

Local village officials said most of those to be evacuated included those who returned from evacuation centers to clean their homes, or those who stayed behind to guard against looters.

 

But village officials said they will not force the issue with those who insist on staying behind. –KG, GMA News