As Typhoon “Ulysses” continues to batter Metro Manila, Marikina River reached the same water level as “Ondoy’s” in 2009.
According to the Marikina Public Information Office, the river’s water level steadily rose to 21.6 meters as of 7:58 a.m., submerging most parts of the city in flood waters.
Marikina City bore the brunt of Ondoy in 2009, where it dumped more than a month’s volume of rain, increasing the water level of the river to 23 meters.
In an interview with DZBB, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said “Ulysses” has brought back the devastation wrought by “Ondoy.”
“Nakakatakot dahil parang Ondoy and karanasan namin dito, dahil yung Ondoy, ganito rin nangyari. Habang natutulog ang lahat, bigla ring tumaas ang ilog (It's scary because our experience here is like Ondoy happened just like this. While everyone was sleeping, the river’s water level suddenly rose),” Teodoro said.
Photos shared by netizens on social media showed murky flood waters almost reaching the second level of some houses in Marikina.
Some residents were stuck on the second floor of their houses as flood waters in their area quickly rose overnight due to the continuing downpour.
The local government has started evacuating residents past midnight on Thursday as the typhoon continue to bring heavy rains and strong winds, resulting to the rapid increase in the water level of Marikina river.