DAVAO CITY – The Office of Civil Defense-11 (Davao region) reported on Thursday that 24 people were trapped, four were killed, and three others were missing in recent floods here.
On Thursday, Sept. 18, the Baguio Police Station reported that another body was found at around 11:40 a.m. in Phase 3 in Barangay Tugbok, Tugbok District.
Police said the body, still submerged under a large rock in the river, remains unidentified. It was first spotted by search and rescue personnel, along with relatives and friends of previous victims.
Authorities also found a body on Wednesday at around 2:50 p.m. at the riverbank at Purok 18 in Barangay Tugbok.
Authorities say only one person remain missing from the Sept. 14 incident where several people were stranded at Mini Asik-Asik Falls, a tributary of the Talomo River in Barangay Carmen, Baguio District.
The river’s sudden rise created dangerous currents, challenging rescue operations, as two river-related incidents occurred on the same day, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
Three individuals were stranded on the Talomo River in Barangay Tamayong in Calinan District, while one was trapped on the Lipadas River in Purok 3 in Barangay Mulig in Toril District.
In Mini Asik-Asik Falls, 13 of the 20 trapped individuals were rescued, four were confirmed dead, and three remain missing. One person was injured and received immediate medical attention.
A search and rescue unit rescued four individuals stranded in Tamayong in Calinan and Mulig in Toril and were provided with on-site medical care.
OCD-11 information officer Ezzra Fernandez said they continue to monitor affected areas and may deploy additional response teams if necessary.
The CDRRMO Operations Center coordinates with relevant agencies to ensure a swift response. Early warning messages and advisories are disseminated through social media, email, SMS, Messenger, and Viber.
Fernandez said the local government reminded the public to exercise caution near rivers and waterfalls, particularly during sudden rainfall or water level changes.