MANILA, Philippines — The water level at the Marikina River reached first alarm yesterday afternoon due to heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Florita.
The Marikina City public information office said the river’s water level reached 15 meters at around 4:48 p.m. and further rose to 15.2 meters by 5:43 p.m.
It prompted a first alarm warning from the city government, which means residents near the river should prepare for possible evacuation.
The river would reach critical level at 19 meters.
The water level first rose to 13.7 meters at 12:45 p.m. and 14 meters by 1 p.m.
Mayor Marcelino Teodoro earlier said a pre-emptive evacuation was still not necessary as the river’s water level was still at 13 meters.
Due to the yellow warning advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Teodoro suspended classes at all levels in all public and private learning institutions in the city at 12:30 p.m.