Drought dries up dam to reveal Centuries-old town

The remains of a nearly three-century-old town have surfaced amidst scorching temperatures in the Philippines, triggered by the partial drying of a significant dam.

Pantabangan town was inundated in the 1970s to construct a reservoir. However, it emerges from beneath the waters on exceedingly rare occasions, typically during periods of exceptionally dry and hot weather.

This phenomenon coincides with nearly half of the nation grappling with a drought, with temperatures soaring to a staggering 50°C (122°F) in some regions.

According to Marlon Paladin, an engineer with the state agency overseeing the country’s dams, this marks the lengthiest duration the town has remained visible since the dam’s inception.

“The general impact of climate change on the Philippines is warmer temperatures. The heat that we are experiencing, it could steadily increase in the coming days”

The intense heatwave has disrupted the routines of millions, leading to school closures and advising office employees to work remotely.

And it could still get marginally hotter in the coming days, Benison Estareja, a meteorologist at the state-run weather bureau Pagasa, told BBC News.

“The general impact of climate change on the Philippines is warmer temperatures. The heat that we are experiencing, it could steadily increase in the coming days,” Mr Estareja said.