5 villages in QC alerted vs dam overflow

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities in Quezon City are preparing to evacuate five low-lying villages due to the threat of water overflowing from the La Mesa Dam. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said Monday night the five villages may be in danger as the dam had been overflowing since Sunday night. "La Mesa Dam in Quezon City is still overflowing since last night. With this, the Quezon City government is on alert status for possible evacuation of families," it said in its 6 p.m. report. NDCC identified the villages as East Fairview, Holy Spirit, Gulod, Commonwealth, and Lagro villages. At least three villages in Valenzuela City were also being prepared for possible evacuation, including Sta. Lucia, Marulas and Pulo. Meanwhile, the NDCC said the gates of Ambuklao Dam and Binga Dam were opened at one meter each after reaching their spilling levels. The Abra-Cervantes Road was closed due to scoured abutment of Baay Bridge caused by the swelling of Baay River. In Benguet, Kennon Road had only one lane passable due to scoured road shoulder. In Tabuk City in Kalinga, clearing operations are underway due to slides along the Mt Province-Calanan Road. In Nueva Ecija, flooding affected 281 families or 1,405 persons in Licab and Cabanatuan City. Of the 281 families affected, 29 families or 145 persons were evacuated. Zaragoza Road in Tarlac remained impassable to light vehicles due to floods, while Casanova Bridge in Sta. Clara, Quezon was not passable to all vehicles due to eroded approach. - GMANews.TV