Reports of flooding in Cagayan Valley, particularly in Isabela, comes amid reports that flood has started to recede in other areas like Southern Luzon, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila, including Marikina and some parts of Rizal province – all of which received Ulysses’ violent winds and torrential rains.
Some residents believe that the flooding was caused by the release of water from the Magat Dam, which was forced to the spilling level due to rains brought by Ulysses.
Magat Dam is situated on the Magat River, a major tributary of the Cagayan River.
Data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed that seven of Magat Dam’s floodgates have been opened to discharge water. Pagasa said Magat Dam’s outflow was the highest among the country’s dams at 5,073 centimeters.
Despite the large amounts of water released from Magat Dam — from just 989 centimeters on Thursday to 5,073 centimeters on Friday — the dam’s water level only receded to 192.7 meters.
This is only 0.30 meters shy of the dam’s normal high level.
While Ulysses’ wrath covered almost the entire Luzon region, much of the aid appeared to have been focused on Marikina and Rizal as some of its areas are densely populated.
LOOK: #UlyssesPH leaves Tuguegarao, Cagayan submerged in massive flooding.
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) November 13, 2020
The city serves as a catch basin for nearby provinces such as Isabela, which is also still flooded a day after the onslaught of the typhoon. (📹: Louie Antonio Films) | via Harris Julio, ABS-CBN News pic.twitter.com/RyZblA6hHu