Unveiling of Ancient Town as Philippines Dam Dries Up
MANILA — Witness the resurrection of Pantabangan town, a nearly 300-year-old relic, as scorching temperatures in the Philippines cause a major dam to recede.
Submerged in the 1970s to create a reservoir, Pantabangan now emerges from the depths on rare occasions, triggered by dry, hot weather conditions.
With nearly half of the country facing a severe drought, temperatures soaring as high as 50C (122F), this marks the longest period that the town has been visible above water since the dam’s inception, according to Marlon Paladin, an engineer with the state dam agency.
The relentless heatwave has disrupted daily routines, forcing school closures and prompting office workers to telecommute.
And the mercury is expected to rise even further in the days ahead, warned Benison Estareja, a meteorologist at the state weather bureau Pagasa.
“The general impact of climate change in the Philippines manifests through elevated temperatures. The current heatwave could intensify in the upcoming days,” Estareja explained.
Nestled in the midst of its hot and arid season, the Philippines faces exacerbated conditions due to El Nino, a phenomenon characterized by abnormal warming of Pacific Ocean waters along the archipelago’s east coast.
As one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change, the Philippines has weathered catastrophic storms, such as Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, one of the most formidable on record.
“We are observing a decline in dam levels, including Pantabangan and other regions,” Estareja noted.
Official data shows that the water levels in Pantabangan have plummeted by nearly 50m from their usual high of 221m.
The town’s ruins began to resurface in March due to prolonged dry spells, attracting tourists to this historical site located 202km (125 miles) north of Manila.
Meanwhile, neighboring countries like Bangladesh have also suspended classes affecting 33 million students, while in Thailand, heat-related deaths have surged, with 30 fatalities reported between January and April 17 this year.
Across the border in Myanmar, temperatures have surpassed 45C, signaling the widespread impact of the scorching heatwave. — BBC
