Floodwaters continue to rise in Calasiao, Pangasinan, affecting more than 600 residents, as authorities discovered that some residents had damaged a dike intentionally in a misguided attempt to drain floodwaters from their barangay.

Local officials found large cracks in a dike in Barangay Talibew, which some individuals had started digging into reportedly.

They believed it would help release floodwaters faster from their community, but instead, it worsened the situation.

“Ang pagkakaintindi ata nila, kapag mabutas nila, lalabas diyan ang tubig. Pero hindi. Binubutas nila ang retaining wall ng dike at widespread naman ang baha. Tinawagan natin ang engineering office at pinatigil sila,” Calasiao MDRRM Officer Freddie Villacorta said.

Aside from Talibew, 23 other barangays in Calasiao remain flooded. In barangays Longos, Lasip, and Lumbang, floodwaters have risen above house level, forcing many to evacuate.

Rescue operations are ongoing, and more than 600 individuals are now staying in evacuation centers. Among them is the family of Sunta Andaya, who still returns home every morning to feed their dogs.

“Kawawa naman ang mga aso namin kung hindi sila makakain,” she said.

Drone footage shows strong currents making it hard for residents to leave their homes for food. Many are forced to grip ropes tied by neighbors just to cross flooded streets.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office warned that water levels in several barangays could still rise if the rain continues, especially with the Marusay-Sinucalan River catching runoff from nearby towns.