Around 93 families residing near the Marikina River were evacuated on Tuesday night, Aug. 23, as the river’s water level rose to 15 meters and prompted a 1st alarm alert.

As of 11 p.m. 385 individuals were evacuated to three campsites by the local government, according to the Marikina City Public Information Office (PIO).

Some 67 families or 286 individuals are now temporarily sheltered at Nangka Elementary School while 25 families or 95 individuals were evacuated to H. Bautista Elementary School.

Concepcion Integrated School accommodated only one family, consisting of four individuals.

As of 7:35 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24, the evacuation centers have been emptied and residents were allowed to return to their homes.

First alarm

The water level reached 15 meters at 4:48 p.m. on Tuesday, prompting the Marikina City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) to raise the first alarm.

The water level continued to rise for hours afterwards, peaking at 15.5 meters from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m.

It dropped slightly to 15.4 meters from 11 p.m. to 12 midnight.

As of 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24, the river’s alert remained at first alarm with the water level at 15.2 meters.

The river returned to a normal level at 14.1 meters at around 8 a.m.

The eight gates of the Manggahan Floodway were opened.

No flooded areas were reported throughout the DRRMO’s monitoring, according to the PIO.

Tropical storm

Heavy rains poured all over Metro Manila caused by severe tropical storm “Florita.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)’s weather bulletin on Tuesday morning, Aug. 23, indicated “heavy to intense rains” over Northern Luzon, namely Cagayan, Isabela, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Zambales, and Bataan.

However, there were “moderate to heavy with at times intense rains” experienced in parts of Aurora, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, and Cagayan Valley.

Central Luzon, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon saw “light to moderate” rains.

Class suspensions

The Marikina City local government announced the suspension of classes in all levels in public and private schools as of 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23 until Wednesday, Aug. 24, due to PAGASA’s yellow warning advisory.

Early Warning System

The Marikina City DRRMO command center monitors the Marikina River water level through CCTVs and on-the-ground at the water level gauging station (WLGS).

The pillars of the bridge above the river have numbered markings painted on them to measure the water level.

When the water level of the Marikina River reaches 15 meters, the local government signals the first alarm, alerting residences in low-lying areas near the river to prepare for possible evacuation.

When the water level breaches 16 meters, the second alarm is raised. Residents are told to voluntarily evacuate from their homes.

At the critical level of 18 meters, the third alarm is raised, with the local government strictly implementing forced evacuations in the affected areas.