First alarm up over Marikina River

The water level at Marikina River in Marikina City reached the 15-meter mark early Monday, prompting authorities to raise the first alarm.

At 6 a.m., the water reached 15.7 meters, according to a post on Marikina Public Information Office’s Facebook page.

All eight gates of the Manggahan Floodway were open.

At 6:29 a.m., the water inched up to 15.8 meters.

Residents said they were surprised that the water level at the river went up even if only light rains poured overnight, according to a report by Mark Makalalad on Dobol B TV.

They said the water must have come from the upper parts of Montalban, Rizal.

WATCH: Isang sasakyan sa gilid ng Marikina Riverbanks, nalubog na sa tubig matapos ang biglaang pagtaas ng water level sa Marikina River. | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/aEegTsWhX5

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 1, 2021

A car was seen stuck in floodwaters by the riverside. Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection put ropes around the car to prevent it from being carried away by the current.

WATCH: Sasakyan na nalubog sa Riverpark dahil sa umapaw na Marikina River, tinalian ng lubid ng mga tauhan ng BFP para hindi anurin ng tubig.

Water level sa Marikina River, 15.8 meters na. | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/Fd6A2SZvWx

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 1, 2021

Personnel of Marikina Rescue 161 have been monitoring the water level at the river.

UPDATE: Patuloy na naka-monitor ang Marikina Rescue 161 at Brgy. Sto. Niño sa Marikina River.

As of 5:23 A.M, 15.5 meters pa rin ang water level sa Marikina River. | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/Uw4ABlKXOm

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 1, 2021

The water level was at 15.5 meters at 5:13 a.m. before going up to 15.7 meters.

At 10:25 a.m., the water went down to 14.9 meters, prompting authorities to downgrade the alarm level.

First alarm (15 meters) means "warning" in the city's alarm system for Marikina River.

The second alarm (16 meters) means "prepare", while the third alarm (17 meters) means "evacuate."

PAGASA said the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) continues to affect the country on Monday, and is expected to bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Zambales, and Bataan. 

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. During severe thunderstorms, flash floods or landslides may possibly occur. —KG, GMA News