Rising sea levels, brownouts mark coming of ‘Ramil’

Rising sea level that forced the evacuation of 65 families and power interruptions heralded the coming of typhoon "Ramil" (international name Lupit) in Cagayan Valley, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said Thursday night. In its 6 p.m. report, the NDCC said some 65 families or 182 people were evacuated after a 20-meter seawall collapsed in San Antonio village in Aparri town Tuesday. The evacuees included 41 from Maura village and 24 from San Antonio village. Sixteen families were preemptively evacuated from Pilig Abajo village in Cabagan town in Isabela province to the town gymnasium. The NDCC also noted unscheduled power interruptions in areas managed by the Cagayan Electric Cooperative since 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) indicated "Ramil" may make landfall in Cagayan Friday after it accelerated Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, three dams in Northern Luzon - Ambuklao, Binga and Pantabangan - remained open as of 4 p.m., the NDCC said. Ambuklao Dam kept four gates open, with water flowing at 29 cubic meters per second. Its reservoir water level was 740.98 meters, below the 752-meter spilling level. Binga Dam kept one gate open with water flowing at 201 cubic meters per second. Its reservoir water level was at 571.85 meters, below the 575-meter spilling level. Pantabangan Dam kept one gate open with water flowing at 200 cubic meters per second. The reservoir water level was at 218.35 meters, below the 221-meter spilling level. Angat, Ipo, La Mesa, San Roque, Magat and Caliraya dams were closed as of 6 p.m. - GMANews.TV