THE Marikina River continued to swell fast due to incessant rains as it reached the second alarm or 16 meters as of 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.
The first alarm was raised at 4:30 a.m. as the water reached 15.0 meters.
It meant that the residents should “prepare.”
Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro, who has been moving around to personally check the areas, said that they are conducting a preemptive evacuation.
“We pray it does nto reach 18 meters (third alarm), it will be a forced evacuation,” he said.
“May preemptive evacuation na nagaganap para sa residente. May ilang pamilya na po tayo,” Teodoro said in an interview with the DWAN radio.
“May dredging tayo so nakikita natin kahit malakas ulan di ganun kataas ang ilog,” he added.
The heavy rains is due to the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Carina.
Under the second alarm residents are advised to “evacuate”.
The third alarm meanwhile will be raised when the water reaches 18 meters, necessitating “forced evacuation”.
Earlier PAGASA raised the red rainfall warning over Metro Manila, Rizal, and Bataan at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, warning of serious flooding expected in flood-prone areas.
Number Coding Suspended
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that the number coding scheme in Metro Manila is suspended on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
The directive is due to the announcement of Malacanang suspending government work and classes in all levels in Metro Manila due to the continuous rains brought about by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.
“In view of the forecasted continuous rainfall brought about by the Southwest Monsoon and Typhoon Carina at 05:00 a.m. today, 24 July 2024, as recommended by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council,” according to the announcement from the Office of the Executive Secretary.
