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Magat Dam releases water; North Luzon residents warned of flooding

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/11/14/magat-dam.jpg"/><figcaption>An aerial shot of Magat Dam water release. <em>ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The operators of Magat Dam on Saturday warned residents near Magat River and those residing in northern Luzon of the possible flooding, as the dam released water to prevent overspilling.</p><p>The National Irrigation Administration Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) warned that flooding could occur in the municipalities of Gamu and Aurora in Isabela after the operators opened 2 of the dam’s spillway gates.</p><p>Operators added that water in the dam’s reservoir continued to increase at the time this story was posted, because of rainwater coming from watershed areas that recently experienced rainfall.</p><p>Earlier this month, unprecedented flooding submerged Cagayan and Isabela.</p><p>As of 3 p.m., the dam reservoir’s water level was at 189.05 meters above sea level, 4 meters short of its spilling level of 193 meters.</p><p>Magat Dam opened its first spillway gate on Friday, when it released 393 cubic meters per second (cms) of excess water, which equates to 1,965 drums of water.</p><p>Another gate was opened at 8 a.m. Saturday to release 179 cms of water, equivalent to 895 water drums.</p><p>As of 3 p.m., dam operators increased the volume of water it released to 952 cms, or equivalent to 4,760 drums of water.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/17/20/dams-would-break-if-it-didnt-release-water-ndrrmc">Dams would break if they didn&#x27;t release water: NDRRMC</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/26/20/magat-dam-operation-manual-blind-to-possible-flooding-downstream-legarda">Magat Dam operation manual &#x27;blind&#x27; to possible flooding downstream - Legarda</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/26/20/magat-dam-operation-manual-blind-to-possible-flooding-downstream-legarda">Magat Dam operation manual &#x27;blind&#x27; to possible flooding downstream - Legarda</a></li></ul><p>According to NIA-MARIIS’ notice of dam discharge warning operation released 5 a.m., Saturday, the spillway radial Gate 3 was already opened 1-meter wide.</p><p>The gate’s opening was increased to 2 meters at 9 a.m. to release the 393 cms excess water.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/17/20/cagayan-residents-want-to-pursue-charges-vs-magat-dam-operators-gov">Cagayan residents want to pursue charges vs Magat Dam operators: gov</a></li></ul><p>State weather bureau PAGASA, in its <a href="https://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/pagasaweb/files/hmd/riverbasin/cagayan.pdf">5 p.m. flood monitoring report</a>, included the river basin of Cagayan under its flood watch, adding that flooding near the basin areas of Upper, Middle, and Lower Cagayan was possible.</p><p>“People living near the low-lying areas particularly those adjacent to and along the above-mentioned rivers are alerted against possible landslides and flash floods,” the PAGASA said.</p><p>The Magat River is a major tributary of Cagayan River.</p><p>Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba has blamed the heavily silted Cagayan River, Typhoon Ulysses&#x27; rainfall, and water released from Magat Dam for the massive floods that submerged Cagayan, leaving at least 9 dead.</p><p>But the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said dams would break if it did not release water to prevent overtopping.</p><p>Because of this, separate resolutions have been filed before the House of Representatives and the Senate to seek investigations into the deadly flooding in Luzon. -- With reports from Harris Julio, ABS-CBN News</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/18/20/dam-operator-showed-lack-of-anticipation-in-cagayan-flooding-analyst">Dam operator showed &#x27;lack of anticipation&#x27; in Cagayan flooding: analyst</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L22t_XqMeB0?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The operators of Magat Dam on Saturday warned residents near Magat River and those residing in northern Luzon of the possible flooding, as the dam released water to prevent overspilling.</p>

The operators of Magat Dam on Saturday warned residents near Magat River and those residing in northern Luzon of the possible flooding, as the dam released water to prevent overspilling.