Porac folks evacuated as dam threatens to collapse

By George Trillo

Residents of 43 villages along the riverbanks of Porac Gumain River in Pampanga evacuated to higher grounds last week after a mini-dam nestled on top of a mountain threatened to give way.

An advisory from the provincial government of Pampanga said the small water reservoir on top in Porac in Barangay SapangUwak could crack any time which would cause flashflood.

Besides flooding in Porac, the Pampanga provincial government also warned of possible flashfloods in the towns of Floridablanca, Lubao and Sasmuan.

The warning was issued after tropical storm Helen made landfall in Cagayan province around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Since the continuous rain last week owing to the southwest monsoon, floods in several towns in Pampanga and Bulacan have yet to subside.