Magat Dam releases water as Typhoon Karen heads Northern Luzon; 4 areas now under Signal No.3

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- The administration of the Magat Dam in Isabela province advised residents that they will releasing water from their reservoir to prepare for the expected heavy rains of Typhoon Karen.

In an advisory Saturday morning, the National Irrigation Administration-Magat Dam said the Gate 4 will be dumping 171 cubic meters per second.

They said the spillway will be opened around 8 am in the morning.

“Reservoir elevation needs to be lowered in anticipation of the expected heavy inflow due to TY KAREN,” the advisory said.

Meanwhile, in its 11 am bulletin, the state weather bureau said Typhoon Karen was last seen 95 kilometers north northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, moving west northwest at 17 kilometers per hour. It has maximum winds of up to 130 km/h and gustiness of up to 180 km/hr.

PAGASA raise signal number 3 in the following areas:

• Catanduanes
• Camarines Norte
• northern Quezon including Polillo Island
• Aurora

Signal number 2:

• rest of Quezon
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Rizal
• Bulacan
• Nueva Ecija
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino
• Zambales
• Tarlac
• Pangasinan
• La Union
• Benguet

Signal number 1:

• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao Island and Burias Island
• Isabela
• Romblon
• Marinduque
• Oriental Mindoro
• Batangas
• Laguna
• Cavite
• Metro Manila
• Pampanga
• Bataan
• Ifugao
• Northern Samar

PAGASA warned residents in areas under Signal No.2 and 3 for storm surges. TNF