Worst flooding in 40 years engulf Bulacan

The floodwaters started coming in and rose continuously since midnight of Thursday. The following day (Friday), residents of several towns in Bulacan and Pampanga who barely had any sleep woke up to a sea of floodwaters.

Most of the barangays in the towns of Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, San Miguel, Bustos, Baliuag, Plaridel, Calumpit, Hagonoy and Paombong are under water.

Floodwaters have reached 3 meters (10 feet) in Barangay Sapang Bayan in Calumpit, according to reports that reached the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council yesterday.

According to Bulacan Governor Wilfredo Alvarado, the water released from the Angat and Ipo dams was too much for the Bustos dam, which continues to release water. All three dams are located within Bulacan province. This is the first time that Calumpit and Hagonoy experienced this kind of flooding since the 1970s.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) “hydrologist Elmer Caringal said the water likely came from Angat and Ipo Dams, which are both in Bulacan.

“The floodwaters that hit Bulacan are from Ipo and Angat Dams. Aside from the dam’s excess water, the rainwater from the mountains are now starting to flow into the province’s rivers”.

Authorities said it is necessary to let the water escape to avoid a dam collapse causing rampaging waters to wash away people and houses.

“Elmer Caringal, state hydrologist from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said it would be best to keep the floodgates of at least six major dams open and let controlled volumes of water gush out so that the facilities can make room to accommodate the rains Typhoon Quiel, and later on Tropical Cyclone Ramon, will dump on Luzon.”

Tweets are all calling for prayers. @CarmelaEHonrado says “Praying really hard for our Kababayans in Bulacan who are still stucked in neck deep flood. Heartbreaking to see them in that state” @Mikiyome is worried , “4days no electricity, no water, lack of sleep, FLOOD! and now typhoon signal no.1! Plss.. Pray for #hagonoy #bulacan :(”

@susanople tweets “If you have old clothes, canned goods, bottled water, etc that you’d like to donate to my townmates in Hagonoy, pls text/call 09175290282.”

To those who are willing to donate to Bulacan Flood victims, you may contact the OPLE CENTER: 8335337 / 8339562 from 9AM – 7PM.

Some reactions on Twitter show deep concern for their kababayan in Bulacan.