ROSALES–It was on October 9, Friday dawn when floodwaters in 32 towns and three cities in the province were initially seen rising fast due to the swelling of major rivers, notably the Agno River, initially from the continuous rains unleashed by Typhoon Pepeng.

It was aggravated when the San Roque Multi-purpose Project (SRMP), reputed to be highest rock-fill dam in the south east Asian region and the second highest in Asia, began spilling its excess water at the lower stream of the Agno River through its six spillway gates by 26 meters at 3 a.m.

This was gleaned from the Flood Bulletin No. 13 issued at 4:00 a.m. Friday by the Agno River Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (ARFFWC) based in Barangay Tumana, Rosales.

It warned that heavy flooding would be expected in the low-lying areas located along the banks of the Agno River, namely San Nicolas, San Manuel, Asingan, Sta. Maria, Rosales, Villasis, Sto. Tomas, Alcala, Bautista, Bayambang, San Carlos City, Urbiztondo, Mangatarem, Aguilar, Bugallon, Labrador and Lingayen.

However, as early as Thursday afternoon, many roads in eastern and central Pangasinan, though quite far from the Agno River, were no longer to light vehicles.

The bulletin also warned that floodwater from allied Sinocalan, Ingalera and Tagamusing Rivers, would also immediately affect the low-lying areas of Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Binmaley, Binalonan, Malasiqui and the cities of Dagupan and Urdaneta.

It pointed out, too, that the floodwaters from allied Bued, Patalan, Angalacan and Aloragat rivers would soon rise and affect the low-lying areas of Mangaldan, Mapandan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Laoac, Manaoag Sison and Pozorrubio.

At about the same time, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council based in Lingayen reported later reported that rising floodwater was already felt in Natividad, Umingan and Balungao, largely on account of the swelling of the Dipalo-Viray River, a separate river system originating from the Caraballo mountains in eastern Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, the floodwaters from tributaries of the Tarlac and Camiling Rivers were forecasted to affect the low-lying areas of Tarlac province, namely San Manuel, Tarlac City, Gerona, Paniqui, Moncada, Sta. Ignacia and Camiling.

The ARFFWC had issued the alert to the local government units to advise their residents living near the riverbanks and low-lying areas to move to higher grounds or designated evacuation centers.–LM

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments