Marikina under state of calamity due to flooding

Heavy downpour caused by Tropical Depression ‘Josie’ has caused the Marikina River spilling to reach the 17-meter mark on Sunday. /Inquirer photo

THE tropical cyclone warning signal is now down to one province as Tropical Depression “Josie” moves north-northeast of Bashi Channel.

According to the severe weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), signal number 1 remains over Batanes Islands.

The state weather bureau said that residents from the said area must expect occasional rains with gusty winds brought by “Josie.”

It added that sea travel remains risky over the northern and eastern seaboards of northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central Luzon.

Marikina City was placed under state of calamity on Sunday due to flooding caused by continuous rainfall, Marikina City Mayor Marce Teodoro said.

Placing the city under a state of calamity would help local authorites get relief assistance quickly to residents.

“We declared a state of calamity because it has been raining hard for a week now,” Teodoro said in Filipino in an interview with AM radio station dzBB. “Many residents have not been able to go to work because of flooding.”

Classes in all levels in both public and private schools in Marikina were also declared suspended on Monday due to flooding.

At 9:40 a.m., the Marikina River water level reached 17.4 meters due to continuous rainfall brought by Tropical Depression “Josie.”

With the city under a second alarm alert level, Marikina officials have asked residents to evacuate to designated centers.

By 4:15 p.m., however, the water level of Marikina River had subsided to 15.9 meters.

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