Marikina River on first alarm as water rises due to Habagat rains

The local government raised the first alarm at Marikina River on Saturday, August 29, 2026, after the water level reached 15.0 meters due to the heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

The water at Marikina River was at 15.0 meters at 12:17 p.m., according to the Marikina City Public Information Office.

It inched up to 15.2 meters as of 12:37 p.m.

At first alarm, residents should prepare for possible evacuation.

Preemptive evacuation will be implemented when the water level reaches 16 meters, triggering the second alarm. When the water level reaches 18 meters, the third alarm will be raised, signaling mandatory evacuation.

Marikina City Mayor Maan Teodoro said major evacuation centers in the city are already open.

"Bukas na po ang ating major evacuation camps at naka-alerto ang lahat ng ating DRRM teams and operatives," Teodoro said in a post on Facebook.

"Monitoring ulit tayo hanggang sa humupa ang ulan. Mag-ingat po tayong lahat at manatiling alerto," she added.

Metro Manila is under a red rainfall warning as of 11 a.m., PAGASA said.

This means serious flooding is expected in flood-prone areas. —KG, GMA News