NDCC: 5 dams in Luzon remain open to discharge excess water

Five dams in Luzon remained open Tuesday morning to discharge excess water as typhoon "Ramil" (Lupit) draws closer to the country’s northern provinces. In its 6 a.m. report, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said Ambuklao, Binga, San Roque, Pantabangan and Magat dams kept spillway gates open. The reservoir water level at the five dams was below the normal high or spilling elevation levels, the NDCC said. Of the five dams, Magat showed an increasing water level, although its reservoir level was at 191.29 meters, 1.71 meters below the 193-meter spilling level. Ambuklao's reservoir water level was at 741 meters, 11 meters below its spilling level of 752 meters. Binga's was at 567.80 meters, 7.20 meters below the 575-meter level. San Roque's reservoir water level was at 279.10 meters, 0.9 meter below the 280-meter spilling level. Pantabangan's was at 218.92 meters, 2.08 meters below the 221-meter spilling level. On the other hand, Angat and Ipo dams had closed their gates since Monday after discharging excess water. La Mesa and Caliraya dams were under "normal condition," the NDCC said, indicating their gates are also closed. Meanwhile, the death toll from tropical cyclones "Ondoy" (Ketsana) and "Pepeng" (Parma) remained unchanged from Monday at 858. Damage to property caused by Pepeng increased slightly to P16.577 billion, including P11.711 billion in agriculture and P4.863 billion in infrastructure. Damage to property caused by Pepeng remained at P11.162 billion, including P6.766 billion in agriculture and P4.396 billion in infrastructure. - GMANews.TV