Forced evacuation along Tullahan underway; La Mesa Dam nears spill level

(Updated 11:07 a.m.) Heeding the recommendation of La Mesa Dam management on the forced evacuation of families along Tullahan River, local officials and disaster response crews have begun bringing residents of flooding hazard zones to safer ground, GMA News' radio dzBB reported Friday morning.

Families recommended to be forcibly evacuated included those along Tullahan River in Fairview and Novaliches in Quezon City; Malabon City; Navotas City; and Valenzuela City.

Sapilitang paglilikas, inirekumenda na ng pamunuan ng La Mesa Dam dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng lebel ng tubig sa dam. #UmagaNaBalitaNa

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 9, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 

In northern Quezon City, residents near the Tullahan River were evacuated to the Fairview Elementary School, dzBB's Allan Gatus reported.

Ilang pamilyang inilikas na nakatira malapit sa Tullahan River, dinala sa Fairview Elementary School. | @allangatus pic.twitter.com/4cu3I0HwJe

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 9, 2015
 
 

A report on "News to Go" said that while its water level remains low on Friday morning, the  Tullahan River could overflow within an hour after the La Mesa dam releases water.

Evacuees

Some 200 families or more than 800 people, including a three-week-old and a 90-year-old, were evacuated to the Valenzuela National High School. Some 100 others are now staying at the Constantino High School.  Also, over 50 families were evacuated to Potrero and Tinajeros elementary schools in Malabon.

However, some residents in affected areas refused to be evacuated, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Romina Marasigan said in also on "News to Go."

“At the end of the day, it will be their decision,” Marasigan said, adding they want to avoid accidentally hurting anyone, which could happen if government officials attempt to physically force people to evacuate their homes.


^{Project NOAH flood map shows the Tullahan RIver weaving through Novaliches, Valenzuela, Caloocan and Malabon.}

 

DzBB's Luisito Santos reported that as of 3 a.m., the water level at La Mesa had reached 79.87 meters, closer to the spilling level of 80.15 meters.

As of 2AM, inirekumenda na ng pamunuan ng La Mesa dam ang sapilitang paglikas sa mga naninirahan sa gilid ng Tullahan River @dzbb

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) July 9, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

As of 3AM July 10, 2015, nasa 79.87 meters na ang water level ng La Mesa Dam, mas mataas ito kumpara sa 79.83 kaninang 2AM @dzbb

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) July 9, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shortly after 6:30 a.m. La Mesa Dam management said the reservoir's water level rose a bit more.

Lebel ng tubig sa La Mesa Dam 79.98 meters na malapit na sa 80.15 meters ?na spilling level ayon sa Plant Manager na si Teddy Angeles.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 9, 2015
 

Falcon exits PAR

Meanwhile, Typhoon Falcon (Chan-Hom) exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility before early Friday morning, but state weather agency PAGASA warned more rain is still expected in the coming days.