A portion of a gabion-style dike collapsed Friday morning, September 26, causing higher floods in Calasiao and Dagupan City.

Calasiao Mayor Patrick Caramat, in an interview, said the dike located at Barangay San Vicente was reported to have collapsed at around 5 a.m., increasing the flood level by one foot in Barangays Poblacion West, San Vicente and Banaoang.

It was estimated that around two to three spans of the gabion-style dike collapsed, causing water to rush.

Zaldy Malit of the Calasiao Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said they began receiving reports that the main roads in Barangay San Vicente leading towards Banaoang have been flooded, with waters rushing, leaving light vehicles unable to pass.

Caramat said the dike was supposedly constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways to minimize flooding in the area by blocking the natural flow of water.

“Yung inaagusan ngayon ng tubig mula nang mabuwal yung dike, yun yung natural na agos ng tubig talaga, sinaraduhan lang para hindi mabilis bahain ang San Vicente at Banaoang”, the mayor said.

(The path where the water flows since the dike collapsed is actually its natural course; it was just redirected with the dike to protect San Vicente and Banaoang from flood.)

This water eventually loops back to the Marusay River, flowing to Dagupan City, albeit in a much larger volume.

Caramat said there is no immediate remedy to the collapsed dike, especially with the surrounding areas still flooded.

Residents in the affected areas have been evacuated, he added.  (Ahikam Pasion)

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