UPDATE: 3rd alarm raised at Marikina River due to 'Karding'
The local government of Marikina City sounded the third and final alarm as the Marikina River water level breached 18 meters early Monday morning, Sept. 26, amid a night of heavy, torrential rains caused by super typhoon “Karding.”
The water level hit the 15 meter mark at exactly 8:59 p.m, prompting the first alarm alert.
It escalated to 15.6 meters at 9:49 p.m. It reached 16 meters at 10:08 p.m.
The water level hit the critical mark of 18 meters at 12:33 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 26.
In a short interview with Teleradyo on Sunday night, Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said they expected the river to reach the second alarm by 10 to 11 p.m. because of the double-digit rainfall count recorded by their command center.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (NDRRMC) issued a red rainfall warning in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, and Nueva Ecija as of 9:50 p.m.
According to the city’s early warning system, residents in the low-lying areas or those near the Marikina River are asked to prepare for evacuation in the first alarm.
When the river reaches the second alarm, residents are expected to evacuate to their designated centers in their barangays.
As the third alarm blared across the city, residents piled up the streets to evacuate.
Teodoro was spotted inspecting the evacuation sites on Sunday night to early Monday morning.
Teodoro said around 50 evacuation sites sprawled within the city have been open since 8 a.m.
Around 22 families or 76 individuals have preemptively evacuated their residences, even before the alarm or flooding, he added.
The local government has also deployed rescue personnel and equipment in 29 “critical areas,” or areas most prone to flooding and other disasters.
No flooding has yet been reported by the local government, but they have received reports of trees brought down by the strong winds, for which they have deployed tree-cutting crews.
An electrical team has also been sent out to roam and survey the city in case of problems concerning power lines. The local government have also coordinated with the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to resolve any electrical issues.
Teodoro urged residents to stay alert, vigilant, and proceed to the nearest evacuation centers for the families most affected by the typhoon.
In the Sunday morning weather bulletin of PAGASA, Typhoon Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) No. 3 was raised for Metro Manila.
Parts of Metro Manila including Marikina City, Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City, Valenzuela City, and Quezon City were placed under TCWS No. 4 by PAGASA at around 2 p.m. on Sunday.
PAGASA warned of heavy torrential rains, strong winds, and possible flooding, particularly from Sunday afternoon, Sept. 25 to Monday morning, Sept. 26.
READ MORE: Marikina’s response teams in full force for ‘Karding’