Isabela officials brace for floods in six towns

ILAGAN, Isabela — Disaster officials started evacuating residents in six central towns yesterday due to possible flooding after the Magat Dam here reached a critical level that might force irrigation authorities to release excess water due to continuous heavy rains dumped by typhoon "Niña."

Provincial information officer Raymund Catindig said the provincial government has sent standby rescue teams to help evacuate residents near the Magat Dam and its tributaries.

"Several families living near the Magat Dam and its tributaries have been evacuated to safer grounds as we are anticipating the onslaught of floodwaters when the dam starts to release excess water," Catindig said.

The affected towns are Cabatuan, San Mateo, San Manuel, Aurora, Luna and Ramon, where the mammoth dam is located.

Engineer Vicente Galvez, regional irrigation director, however, said the water in the dam’s reservoir could still be contained although it has exceeded the normal level.

"There’s still no cause for alarm. Not yet," he said.

As of 1 p.m. yesterday, the dam’s water level was 190.87 meters, beyond the normal 187 meters.

Irrigation officials said they might be forced to release excess water if the heavy downpour continues.

Catindig said the dam’s water level reached 192.7 meters Friday night when typhoon "Niña" was at its height.

Isabela is still reeling from the havoc wreaked by typhoon "Harurot" which brought more than P1 billion in infrastructure damage and crop losses.

Several northern towns found themselves without electricity anew as "Niña" toppled electric posts and cables, which incidentally had just been rehabilitated last week.