MARIKINA CITY, Philippines — Residents in flood-prone communities in Marikina and Quezon City were forced to evacuate after the Marikina River reached the third and highest alarm level amid relentless rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, authorities and news reports said Sunday, August 30.
The river breached the critical 18-meter threshold late Saturday night, triggering the third alarm and mandatory evacuation measures for residents in vulnerable and low-lying areas. GMA News reported that the water level reached 18.4 meters at 11:35 p.m., following continuous heavy rainfall. Under Marikina City’s warning system, the third alarm signals the need for mandatory evacuation in areas at risk of flooding.
Early Sunday, families from affected communities began seeking shelter in evacuation centers as authorities monitored the rapidly changing situation. Reports from ABS-CBN News said residents in parts of both Marikina and Quezon City were evacuated as the river reached the critical alert level.
Floodwaters Reach Parts of Quezon City
The impact of the rising river was also felt in Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, where muddy floodwaters inundated parts of the community. Some residents reportedly used boats to move through flooded areas as authorities continued evacuation and monitoring operations.
The situation unfolded as intense monsoon rains affected large portions of Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The Philippine Star reported widespread flooding, impassable roads and rising rivers across the capital region as the enhanced southwest monsoon continued to bring heavy rainfall.
River Level Later Drops—but Residents Urged to Stay Alert
By Sunday morning, however, the Marikina River’s water level had begun to recede. GMA News later reported that the river was downgraded to the second alarm as the water level fell to around 17 meters, before dropping further to the first alarm at 15 meters later in the morning.
The drop in water level brought some relief, but officials and residents remain on alert as weather conditions can change quickly and continued rainfall may cause rivers and waterways to rise again.
What the Marikina River Alarm Levels Mean
Marikina City’s flood warning system uses three alarm levels to help communities prepare for possible flooding:
- First Alarm – 15 meters: Residents in vulnerable areas are advised to prepare for possible evacuation.
- Second Alarm – 16 meters: Preemptive evacuation measures are implemented.
- Third Alarm – 18 meters: Mandatory or forced evacuation is enforced in high-risk and low-lying communities.
The latest flooding emergency serves as another stark reminder of how quickly extreme weather can place Metro Manila communities at risk. With the Habagat continuing to affect parts of Luzon, residents living near rivers, creeks and other flood-prone areas are urged to closely follow official advisories and evacuate immediately when instructed by local authorities.
For now, the Marikina River may be receding—but for thousands of families living along vulnerable waterways, the danger of another sudden rise remains a reality that cannot be ignored.
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