Marikina River water level goes back to normal

The water level at Marikina River continued going down overnight and reached normal level before dawn on Wednesday.

At past 6 a.m., the water level was near the 14-meter mark, according to a report by Connie Sison on GMA News' Unang Balita.

A shallow part of the riverbank was still flooded on Wednesday morning but local authorities said this was no cause for alarm.

In fact, senior citizens were already at the Marikina River Park for their daily exercise.

At 8 a.m., the water level further went down to 14.1 meters, according to Marikina Rescue 161. All eight floodgates were still open, it said.

On Tuesday, as heavy rains poured due to Severe Tropical Storm Florita, the river's water level reached 15.5 meters.

The city government raised the first alarm at 5:43 p.m. after the water level at the river went up to 15.2 meters. All eight floodgates were opened.

Under Marikina City's alarm system, the first alarm will be raised when the water reaches 15 meters. This means "warning."

The second alarm will be raised when water reaches 16 meters, and this means "prepare."

The third alarm on the other hand will be sounded when the water level is at 18 meters. This means "evacuate."

Marikina City Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro said the water level became normal at 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday.

"Kahapon ay may mga preemptive evacuation. Wala namang baha sa mga lugar nila pero minabuti nilang mag-ingat. 111 families ang in-evacuate," Teodoro said in an interview on Unang Balita.

(Yesterday, preemptive evacuation was conducted [in some areas]. There was no flooding in their area but residents chose to be cautious. A total of 111 families were evacuated.)

The evacuees were brought to three evacuation centers, he said.

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, however, only around 100 families were still at the evacuation centers as evacuees started returning to their homes, the mayor said.

"Nakikita namin nagbabalikan na sila sa kanilang mga lugar at sa kanilang tahanan dahil nakaramdam na sila ngayon ng kaligtasan dahil maliwanag na ang kalangitan, tumigil na ang pag-ulan buhat kanina pang alas-dos ng madaling araw, normal na ulit ang water level sa Marikina River at 14.4 to 14 meters," Teodoro said.

(We saw that the evacuees started returning to their areas and their homes because they felt it was safe to do so. The skies are bright, the rains have stopped since past 2 a.m., and the water level at Marikina River became normal at 14.4 to 14 meters.)

"Inaasahan natin na ang pag-ulan na magaganap ay dahil sa Hanging Habagat na hinihila ng bagyo," he added.

(We are expecting that rains that may occur today will be due to the Southwest Monsoon being enhanced by the severe tropical storm.)

According to a report by Mark Makalalad on Dobol B TV, 69 families were at Nangka Elementary School, 29 families at H. Bautista Elementary School, and two families were at Concepcion Integrated School.

Teodoro said health protocols were observed in evacuation centers, and these areas are disinfected.

The mayor however said the city government would like to put up more evacuation centers. 

Meanwhile, Marikina Rescue 161 and barangay personnel started cleaning up the mud left by receding water at the riverbank.

Florita has already exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday but it is enhancing the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are forecast for Metro Manila on Wednesday due to the Habagat, according to PAGASA. —KG, GMA News