Magat Dam hits critical level anew

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — The water level in Magat Dam, located along the borders of Isabela and Ifugao provinces, reached the critical level yesterday due to continuous heavy downpour.

The National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) said that as of 1 p.m. yesterday, the dam’s water had risen to 190.30 meters, which is above its 190-meter critical level.

The dam’s water level has been hovering around the critical level since last month due to continuous rains and successive typhoons that devastated several areas in Cagayan Valley and the rest of Northern Luzon.

At the height of Typhoon Ulysses, dam operators opened all of the spillway gates to prevent it from reaching its spilling level.

On Dec. 6, the NIA-MARIIS closed the spillway gates after the dam reached a manageable water inflow.