MARIKINA CITY, Philippines — The Marikina River was placed under second alarm on Saturday afternoon, August 29, after its water level climbed to 16 meters amid persistent heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Habagat.
According to the Marikina City Public Information Office, authorities raised the second alarm at 1:50 p.m. when the river reached the critical 16-meter mark. The water level continued to rise to 16.1 meters as of 2:08 p.m., highlighting how quickly conditions can change during sustained rainfall.
The river had been placed under first alarm just hours earlier at 12:17 p.m., when the water level reached 15 meters. Under Marikina’s warning system, the second alarm signals the implementation of preemptive evacuation measures, while a third alarm at 18 meters would trigger mandatory evacuation.
Metro Manila Under Red Rainfall Warning
The rising water level came as PAGASA placed Metro Manila and several other areas under a Red Rainfall Warning at 2 p.m., warning of possible serious flooding in flood-prone communities.
Heavy Habagat rains had already caused flooding in several parts of the capital region. Reports on Saturday showed flooded roads and communities in areas including Quezon City, Parañaque, Manila and Las Piñas, with some roads becoming difficult or impossible for certain vehicles to pass.
The situation is part of a broader weather threat affecting large portions of Luzon. PAGASA’s rainfall outlook warned that heavy rains could continue in several areas through the coming days, while noting that accumulated rainfall may worsen flooding and other weather-related impacts.
Evacuation Centers Open as Authorities Monitor the River
As the river began rising earlier in the day, Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro said major evacuation centers had been opened and disaster response teams were on alert.
Residents living near the river and in flood-prone areas are being urged to closely follow official advisories and prepare to move if instructed by local authorities. The key concern remains whether continued rainfall will push the Marikina River closer to the 18-meter threshold for a third alarm.
For now, the river remains under second alarm based on the latest reports available at publication time—but with Habagat rains continuing to affect Metro Manila, authorities and residents are keeping a close watch on what happens next.
This is a developing weather situation. Residents should rely on official updates from PAGASA, their local government units, and disaster response authorities for the latest warnings and evacuation instructions.
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