TAYUG, Pangasinan — Two stranded quarriers were rescued by authorities after being stranded in a quarry site in Brgy. Gozon here on Tuesday morning, Oct. 12.
In an interview, Pangasinan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Operations Officer Vincent Chui said they received a call from the Municipal DRRMO around 2 a.m asking for assistance to conduct rescue operations.
“Nag-responde ang ating personnel, kasama nila ang Army. Dalawa silang quarriers na na-trap at nakasakay sa kanilang truck na nasa gitna ng quarry site (Our personnel responded together with the Army. There were two quarriers who were trapped while on board their truck that was in the middle of of the quarry site),” he said.
Chui said the quarriers were trapped due to the sudden surge of water level around the Agno River.
Meanwhile, the rescue team was also able to evacuate eight residents in the area who are also affected by flooding.
“Pagdating ng team natin sa area, na-rescue din ang nasa walong katao na residente sa lugar. Merong ilang mga ayaw lumikas pero dahil sa tulong ng PNP, Coast Guard at Army, sumama sila sa atin sa evacuation center, (When the team arrived in the area, they rescued around eight residents of the area. There were those who refused to be evacuated but with the help of the PNP, Coast Guard and Army, they eventually went with them to the evacuation center),” he added.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office immediately provided basic needs for the evacuees.
Meantime, A 24-year-old female died of electrocution at Barangay Dorongan here while a 19-year-old farmer at Barangay Gualsic in Alcala town was missing amid the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Maring on Tuesday morning.
In an interview, Pangasinan Police Provincial Office information officer Maj. Arturo Melchor Jr. identified the victims as Ana Marie Ventayen of Lingayen town and Michael Alvarez of Barangay Atainan in Alcala town.
“Ventayen was sleeping on a foam bed placed on the flooring of their house when floodwaters brought by the rainfall reached inside their home, including the electric fan she was using. This caused her electrocution,” he said.
Ventayen was brought to a nearby hospital by her family members but she was pronounced dead on arrival, he added.
In a separate interview, M/Sgt. Emmanuel Vargas, duty police of Lingayen Police Station, said the victim’s residence is in a low-lying barangay that usually experiences sudden flooding as it is near a riverbank.
Meanwhile, Alvarez and his employer, John Estrada, went to the flooded farm to secure the drums being used in their farm when the latter noticed that Alvarez was no longer with him.
Melchor said Estrada immediately sought the assistance of authorities to look for Alvarez.
“Rescue is still ongoing as of this time,” he said. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)