Photo courtesy of LLDA.
Communities around Laguna de Bay were warned to prepare for possible flooding after the lake rose beyond its critical high-water mark amid persistent monsoon rains.
The Laguna Lake Development Authority recorded the lake at 12.58 meters at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, above the 12.50-meter level considered critical.
Continued rainfall from the southwest monsoon and a low pressure area pushed more water into the lake and surrounding waterways, according to the agency.
The rise poses greater risks to low-lying communities because Laguna de Bay collects runoff from watersheds covering Laguna, Rizal and parts of Metro Manila.
Residents along the shoreline were advised to monitor official updates and be ready to evacuate if conditions worsen.
Local governments were also urged to keep drainage channels and rivers flowing into the lake clear to help reduce possible flooding.
The warning came as heavy rainfall alerts remained in effect over Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon due to the habagat.
LLDA said it would continue monitoring the lake as prolonged rainfall could push water levels higher and further affect vulnerable lakeshore communities.