Massive Floods Hit Cagayan and Isabela as Magat Dam Continues to Release Water

“Worst in memory,” said Governor Manuel Mamba, as massive flooding continues in Cagayan and Isabela, already claiming the lives of 9 people while trapping thousands of affected citizens as Magat Dam continues to release water from its reservoir.

Mamba said Cagayan was “blindsided” by the floods, with one local disaster official saying the province had turned into the “Pacific Ocean,” speaking of the vast waters that quickly submerged everything in its path.

The massive flooding of Cagayan and Isabela was brought upon by heavy rainfall caused by Typhoon Ulysses, furthered by northeast monsoon and the tail end of a cold front, which increased the water levels of Magat Dam to the point that spillways were needed to be opened to release water.

All seven spillway gates of Magat Dam in Isabela were opened Thursday afternoon due to the continuous increase in the dam’s water level.

Currently, fours spillways are still opened for water releasing.

As of 9:00 AM, November 14, 2020, 174,940 Individuals are currently affected by the massive floods, according to the CagayanProvincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

Cries for help

Appeals for help and rescue emerged on Friday evening as pictures of the massive flooding began to surface in social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, prompting for netizens to cry for help on behalf of the flood victims.

Social media quickly became a medium for the cries of help of concerned netizens, with the hashtag #CagayanNeedsHelp finding itself on the trending list of Twitter and also became a trending hashtag on Facebook, appealing to the national government for aid and rescue. (GFB)