A settlement hundreds of years old, swallowed by the waters, reappears in the Philippines

A remarkable discovery has surfaced beneath the waters of the Pantabangan Dam in the province of Nueva Ecija. A nearly 300-year-old settlement swallowed by the dam’s waters in the 1970s has come to light as the receding water level has revealed structures such as part of a church, tombstones and remains of local buildings.

Marlon Paladin, an engineer with the National Irrigation Administration, told AFP the occurrence was a rare occurrence, marking the sixth time the settlement has resurfaced since the dam was created, but “this is the longest it’s been happening.” .

The Philippines is experiencing extremely high temperatures, forcing schools to suspend classes as thermometers hit 42 degrees Celsius. The town of Muñoz, located near the dam, has recorded a heat index of over 41 degrees for the past five days, with temperatures reaching 47 degrees in some areas.

This extreme heat comes against the backdrop of a widespread drought that has hit much of northern and central Luzon, including the province of Nueva Ecija. Climatologist Maximiliano Herrera warned that these extreme temperatures are part of a global trend, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to climate change.