Fisherman drowns amid heavy rains from 'Karen'

Binga dam (seen in file photo) along with Ipo dam, has opened some gates as heavy rains from "Karen" caused some dams in Luzon to reach spilling level.

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines – A 70-year old fisherman drowned in Southern Leyte amid heavy rains triggered by Typhoon "Karen," the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Saturday.

Juan Cabales, a resident of Bgy. Bugo, Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte, went fishing 8 p.m. September 12 and failed to return.

His body was recovered Friday noon off the shore of Bgy. Kawayan, Libangon town.

Cabales is the first fatality from the typhoon, which, while it is not expected to make landfall, still triggered heavy rains in Luzon and Visayas.

Dam status

Authorities are closely monitoring dams in Luzon amid heavy downpour Friday night.

As of 6 a.m. Saturday, only the Binga Dam in Benguet and the Ipo Dam have opened their gates to release water. Binga Gate has one gate open releasing 0.5 meters of water. Water level as of 6 a.m. Saturday is at 574.83 meters. Spilling level is at 575 meters.

Meanwhile, Ipo Dam also has one gate open releasing 0.3 meters of water. Its current level is at 101.17 meters, above the spilling level of 100.80 meters.

Authorities are monitoring La Mesa Dam, where water levels are already at 79.34 meters. Spilling level is at 80.15 meters. 

Angat Dam is already at spilling level at 211 meters, but has yet to open its gates to release water.

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