Authorities order forced evacuation of Marikina River banks residents, water levels hit past 18 meters

Metro Manila, Philippines – Authorities have ordered a forced evacuation for residents along the banks of the Marikina River after the water level breached the highest alarm.

In its Facebook post, the Marikina Public Information Office (PIO) said water level has reached 18.2 meters above sea level, prompting authorities to hoist Alarm Level 3. That required forced evacuation.

Normal water level is 14.9 meters and below.

The gates in the Manggahan floodway have been opened earlier this morning when second alarm was raised, the Marikina PIO said.

The Marikina River serves as a catch basin for water flowing from the mountains surrounding Rizal in the east and from Quezon City in the west. – Lois Calderon