Ancient sunken Philippines town reappears after drought

A 300-year-old town in the Philippines, that was submerged decades ago to build a dam, has reappeared after a local drought caused the water to recede.

The Old Pantabangan town in Nueva Ecija has not been seen since the 1970s, but a severe lack of rainfall across parts of southeast Asia has caused water levels in the dam's reservoir to drop significantly.

As locals and tourists flock to the re-emerged ruins, some superstitious people believe it is a sign of hope after the Philippines was deemed one the Asian countries worst hit by coronavirus.

"I grew up in that place. Before it was sunken by the dam, we were forced to evacuate and find another place to live," local man Alexander Agustin told Associated Press.

"I am happy to be able to go back there and remember how my life was before the town disappeared below the water.'' 

READ MORE: Philippines one of countries worst hit by coronavirus pandemic

Another man, Joergen Cruz Mandilag, said people flocking to the site were being safe and socially distancing, but the opportunity to see the town was too rare an opportunity to pass up.

"When the news came that the sunken town was now visible, we decided to see it for ourselves - The locals there also said that it may be many years for us to be able to see it again," he said.

The ancient sunken town is located at the foot of the Pantabangan Dam.

In the 1970s, the people of the town sacrificed their homes to allow construction to begin on what is now one of the biggest dams in southeast Asia.

While many had to relocate, the irrigation from the dam enabled Nueva Ecija province to become the biggest producer of rice in the country.



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