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Isabela under State of Calamity


In Isabela, the floodwaters in Ilagan City have not yet subsided, according to a report on Saksi.

The provincial government reported that 26,000 families are affected by the flooding. Isabela province has been placed under the state of calamity.

"Ang malungkot dito ay hini gaanong handa na, 'yung handang-handa na alam namin na magkakaroon ng ganito," said Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano.

"Naghanda kami nung gabi, ininspeksyon ko 'yung ano namin. Pero hindi namin akalain na nung gabing yun ganito kalaki yung daloy ng tubig ang bumaba sa Cagayan River," he added.

The water from Cagayan River came from the Magat Dam, which is located in the town of Ramon.

"Nag-release pa 'yung Magat dam. Magat Dam kasi is one of those causing 'yung kuwan, 'yung worsening ng aming kuwan. Nagpa-release din pos ila ngayon. Lahat po 'yan papunta sa amin," said Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba.

An announcement was earlier made by authorities that water will be released from Magat Dam and that this may cause flooding in some areas.

Local government units evacuated people from areas that would usually be affected whenever water is released from the dam.

However, local officials did not expect that more areas would be affected as six gates were opened t release a huge volume of water.

The amount of water released reach at least 3,491 cubic meters of water per second, which is equivalent to water from almost one and a half olympic swimming pool.

"Kailangan natin pangalagaan 'yung integridad ng structure natin dito sa Magat Dam, hindi po kaya lahat ng tubig," said Richard Orendain, PAGASA Hydrologist.

For the excess water, Orendain suggested that a piece of land be used as storage or artificial embankment.

In Cagayan province, 24 out of 29 towns remain flooded a day after the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses while the province of Isabela has been placed under a state of calamity.

One of the reasons for the flooding was that the water was released from Magat Dam reportedly caused flooding in more areas than expected.

Baggao town was inundated and some residents are using small boats n what used to be roads.

There were also landslides, wherein four have been reported to have died.

In Alcala, roads are impassable because of floods and landslides while in Pamplona, isolated residents had to be rescued after floodwaters entered their homes.

In Buguey, a vessel ran aground and all 22 crew members are safe.

In Tuguegarao City, many residents are stranded because of the floodwaters.

More than 4,400 persons are in evacuation centers. -- BAP, GMA News

 

Tags: cagayan, ulysses
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