Marikina River goes below alert levels, nearing 'normal'

Amid improving weather, the Marikina River on Friday morning neared its "normal" level, the city's public information office said.

 

In a post on its Twitter account, the Marikina city government said the river's water level was at 14.2 meters above sea level as of 8:24 a.m.

 

"(Marikina River is) nearing normal level. Now at 14.2 meters above sea level," it said.

 

The river's water level had been at 15 meters as of 8:41 p.m. Thursday.

 

Last Tuesday, several families near the river were evacuated from their homes after the water level breached the critical level of 18 meters.

 

At the time, heavy rain brought by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Maring had been pounding Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon.

 

However, the weather started improving after Maring exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday.

 

Residents on Thursday started returning to their homes.

 

Marikina City has a four-stage alarm level system for the Marikina River.

 

Alarm Level 1, when the water is 15 meters above sea level, is a "babala (warning)."

 

Alarm Level 2, when the water is 16 meters above sea level, means "maghanda (prepare)."

 

Alarm Level 3, when the water is 17 meters above sea level, means "lumikas (evacuate)."

 

The fourth, Critical Level, is adopted when the water is 18 or more meters above sea level, and forced evacuation is implemented. —KG, GMA News