Authorities on Saturday opened 16 spillway gates at the Kaptai Dam in Rangamati, releasing water into the Karnaphuli River at a rate of 9,000 cubic feet per second to manage rising water levels and help control flooding in low-lying areas.

The gates were lifted by 6 inches each shortly before 11:30 am local time. According to the Karnaphuli hydroelectric plant control room, the Kaptai Lake reservoir stood at 104.09 feet above mean sea level. The dam’s maximum holding capacity is 109 feet, with 108 feet considered the danger threshold.

The hydroelectric station was operating five of its units on Saturday, generating 222 megawatts of electricity.

“The gates were opened to manage rising water levels and to prevent flooding in low-lying areas,” said Mahmud Hasan, manager and superintending engineer of the Karnaphuli Hydroelectric Power Station. “If the inflow increases further, more gates will be opened based on the situation.”