CEBU CITY — A 17-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl were killed while a 32-year-old woman was missing after they were swept away by a rampaging water while they were swimming in a waterfalls in Catmon town, northern Cebu.
The incident happened around 1 p.m. on Sunday in Tinubdan Falls in Barangay Tabili, Catmon.
The body of Kent Jude Monterola was recovered at 9 p.m. on the same day. The body of Princess Alastra was found at 11:30 a.m. in Barangay Duyan, Catmon.
Princess mother, Jacel, remained missing as of this writing, according to Pat. Renmark Batinsil of the Catmon Police Station.
A video footage of the tragic incident has been circulating on social media.
In the video, a group of individuals were seen frolicking at the foot of the falls. Then the flash flood happened.
The gushing muddy water sent the group to scamper to safer grounds.
In the video, a teenage boy was seen stuck in the middle of the rampaging water.
The other people in the area desperately tried to save the boy by throwing a piece of wood that was tied to a rope.
The boy reached for the rope but the strong current swept him away as screams gripped the area.
Wilson Ramos, interim officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said localized thunderstorms caused heavy rains in some parts in Cebu.
Ramos advised the public to take extra care when swimming in falls as strong rains in the mountains may cause flash flood.