MANILA — Flooding will continue to threaten Magat Dam’s downstream communities in northern Luzon, while tropical cyclone “Rosita” remains inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Heavy rainfall caused by the typhoon, the release of water from Magat Dam, and the siltation in Magat River, where such water flows collectively increase the possibility of flooding in these communities, a hydrologist from the weather bureau has warned.
“Magat River’s downstream communities are at risk of experiencing flooding until ‘Rosita’ exits PAR,” Ailene Abelardo, a hydrologist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Tuesday.
Abelardo said the communities at risk are in the towns of Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Burgos, Naguilian, and Gamu in Isabela province.
She said these towns lie along Magat River’s northeastern stretch from Magat Dam to Cagayan River.
In its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin on Tuesday, PAGASA forecast “Rosita” to exit PAR around Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 31).
PAGASA also forecasted “Rosita” to be about 460 kilometers west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte by Thursday afternoon (Nov. 1), but already outside the PAR.
Abelardo noted part of the typhoon’s rainfall is flowing into Magat River, raising the water level there. “Rosita” is also raising the volume and level of water in Magat Dam.
“As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, that dam already had two open gates to let water out,” Abelardo said. (Catherine Teves/PNA)
