Pangasinan gov orders evacuation due to San Roque dam spill
THE SAN ROQUE Dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan province, lets out water to the Agno River everytime Pangasinan experiences heavy rain. (PHOTO BY ROGER TINGLE/Contributor)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino III ordered on Thursday, the forced evacuation of residents living in low-lying areas along the Agno River as a precaution on the San Roque Dam which has discharged water.
In an advisory issued at 3 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 20), Espino said the move would ensure the safety of residents.
As of 3 p.m., four of the dam’s spillway gates were raised to a total height of five meters, releasing water at the rate of 1,159.3 cubic meters per second.
One cubic meter of water is equivalent to 1,000 liters or five drums of water.
The dam releases water to the Agno River, Pangasinan’s longest river, which traverses 18 towns and San Carlos City before merging with the Lingayen Gulf in Lingayen town.
The National Power Corp. (Napocor) has informed the government that the dam will continue to spill water gradually until the volume of water flowing into the dam levels off with the volume of water the dam is releasing.
Espino urged residents not to panic, and advised them to leave their houses in an orderly manner. SFM
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