Friday, October 06, 2006 Groups end rescue operations today By Lory Ann B. Bilbao
RETRIEVAL operations by rescue groups of the bodies of 19 persons who are still missing but believed killed in the Tanggian River, Igbaras tragedy end Friday.
After five days of retrieval operations, the Royal Eagles, Black Panther Group, Mountain Tigers, Coastguard and other volunteer groups from the towns of Barotac Nuevo and Pototan requested for rest.
Councilor Jose Braza said the Igbaras Municipal Government has allowed the volunteer groups to stop and take a rest.
Braza said that since Monday's rescue operations, there were only two groups of Mountain Tigers left. They were the last ones to stop searching Friday.
Braza, chairman of the council peace and order committee, said despite the halt of various retrieval groups, around 300 volunteers consisting of barangay cops and barangay officials were expected to temporarily take over at 8 a.m.
Last Monday, a passenger jeepney carrying 60 persons was swept toward the Tanggian River in Barangay Barasan by a flash flood.
The latest records showed there were already 23 dead bodies retrieved -- not all were identified -- and 19 still missing but considered dead after the deadline set for the retrieval operations lapsed.
The Municipal Council earlier declared the town under a state of calamity. The declaration was made during the special session called for by Mayor Jaime Esmeralda on Tuesday night.
Esmeralda said the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council (MDCC) urged the declaration since this would allow the town to use its calamity funds to help families of the victims.
(October 6, 2006 issue) Write letter to the editor. Click here. Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
