In response to the rising water levels caused by Severe Tropical Storm Nika (international name Toraji) and the trough of Tropical Storm Ofel (international name Usagi), officials at Magat Dam in Isabela have escalated the opening of the dam’s spillway gate. On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the gate was opened an additional meter, following an initial one-meter opening on Monday afternoon, to manage the increasing reservoir levels amidst ongoing moderate to heavy rainfall.
As of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, the water level at Magat Dam reached 188.65 meters, with a total discharge rate of 386 cubic meters per second. The normal water level for the dam is set at 193 meters above sea level. In anticipation of further rainfall from Tropical Storm Ofel, irrigation officials authorized the release of 764.89 cubic meters per second of floodwater from the dam.
Engineer Carlo Ablan, the manager of the National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) dam and reservoir division, explained that the decision to increase the spillway gate opening was made in response to the expected heavy inflow from the dam’s watersheds due to the storms. Authorities were promptly notified about the water releases to ensure public safety.
The released water is expected to cause swelling in the Magat, Cagayan, Pinacanauan rivers, and other tributaries within the next 24 hours. Residents in the northern Luzon region, particularly those living near these water bodies, have been advised to prepare for potential flooding as a result of these water releases.