Pampanga towns in danger of major flooding as Minalin dike breached

Some areas in Pampanga are expected to be flooded after a tail dike in Barangay Sta.Rita was breached by rising water Tuesday night, Minalin Mayor Edgar Flores said.

“Bumigay na po ang dike sa likod ng Mipolco (Minalin Poultry and Livestock Cooperative) sa Sta. Rita at malakas na ang tubig na umaagos sa daan. Asahan po natin na mataas ang magiging level ng tubig sa ilang oras lamang,” Flores said in a post on his Facebook account at 6 p.m.

Around 6:25 p.m., he said floods had also affected the neighboring town of Sto.Tomas due to the breach.

“Ang mga unang apektadong barangay sa Minalin ay ang Brgy. Sta Rita at San Pedro. Pagkatapos noon ay lalawak na ang pagbaha papuntang Sto. Rosario, San Nicolas, San Francisco 1 at 2, at Sta. Catalina,” he said.

“Sa Domalouis area ay babaha din pero madedelay ng ilang oras. Ganoon na rin sa Barangay Bulac, Dawe, Saplad at Maniango. Asahan po natin na magiging mataas ang level ng tubig,” he further said.

Flores had been issuing advisories and warnings through his Facebook since the water overflowed early in the day due to heavy rains.

Sandbagging operations were undertaken Tuesday morning to prevent the dam from being breached. — Amita Legaspi/DVM, GMA News