Authorities have further opened the spillway gates of Kaptai Dam as the water level of Kaptai Lake continues to rise rapidly.

The 16 spillway gates were opened to one foot from six inches on Saturday night, allowing around 18,000 cusecs of water per second to flow from Kaptai Lake into the Karnaphuli River.

Tarek Ahmed, an engineer at the Karnaphuli Hydropower Plant, said the gates were being opened in phases while monitoring the lake’s water level and the overall situation.

“If the water level continues to rise, the gates may be opened further by another one to two feet around 10am on Sunday,” he said.

If the gates are opened to two feet, around 39,000 cusecs of water per second could be released from Kaptai Lake into the Karnaphuli River, according to the authorities.

Earlier, at around 8pm on Saturday, the 16 spillway gates were opened by six inches, releasing around 9,000 cusecs of water per second.

Later, considering the rising water level and pressure in the lake, the gate opening was doubled to one foot at around 10:35pm.

Sources said additional water was being released into the Karnaphuli River in phases as the water level of Kaptai Lake approached its designated capacity.

They said authorities may decide to open the gates further if the water level rises.

Meanwhile, the flow of the Karnaphuli River downstream of Kaptai Dam may increase further due to the release of excess water through the spillway gates.

Residents of low-lying areas along the Karnaphuli River in Kaptai, Rangamati and Chattogram have been advised to remain alert.

A large volume of water is also being released into the Karnaphuli River through power generation at the Kaptai Hydropower Station.

With additional water being released through the spillway gates, the river’s flow may increase further, the authorities said.