MANILA — The Marikina River water level was lowered to the first alarm early Thursday, the local disaster office said. 

This comes after the river’s water level dropped to 15.9 meters as of 4:20 a.m., the Marikina Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) said.

River dredging and widening that started in 2021 contributed to the rapid drop of the river water level, DRRMO added. 

On Wednesday, the local government of Marikina conducted  forced evacuations of residents in low-lying villages after the river’s water level reached the third and highest alarm at 18 meters. 

Marikina River runs in the heartland of Marikina Valley. It passes through heavily populated residential areas and important commercial and industrial areas at its middle and downstream portions. The river regularly overflows its banks and floods the surrounding basin during periods of heavy rains.

The state weather bureau said early Thursday that flooding remained possible in Metro Manila and other areas due to the habagat enhanced by typhoon Carina. 

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– With a report from Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News