Sunday, November 05, 2006
Flood sweeps 12 away; 1 dies
By Garry Cabotaje
CEBU CITY -- A group of 12 young men went on a river trek Saturday afternoon in Barangay Candulawan, Talisay City, but tragedy struck when flashfloods in the Candulawan River swept them away.
One died. Three remain missing. The rest were rescued.
The second accident involving flashfloods in as many days, the tragedy again highlighted the need to enforce rules on riverbank safety, as well as disaster preparedness in communities.
The trouble began when the group decided to take a dip in the Ilaya pool, the last point of the river, said Candulawan Barangay Captain Josefina Concial.
The only way to reach the area, which is 200 meters away from the barangay hall, is to trek through the river, she said.
Police received initial reports that the group, most of them from Barangay Pardo, Cebu City, was to hold fraternity rites for neophyte members in the area. This was unverified as of this posting, though.
The three survivors whom Concial interviewed were hesitant to reveal their names and those of their companions.
They told Concial that they just befriended some of the group members at an Internet shop.
The body of John Paul of Tugas, Pardo was found Saturday night. He was carried by the floodwaters all the way to Inayawan in Cebu City.
Concial could only identify the missing persons by their first names: Mike of Inayawan, Pardo; Marvin of Cogon, Pardo; and Jero of Bulacao, Pardo.
She believes the three, like John Paul, were washed away to Inayawan.
"We're planning to search the area in White Road, Inayawan. We can no longer find them here," Concial told Sun.Star Saturday night.
The young men were reportedly warned by some residents not to go the Ilaya pool because it was raining and floods could occur anytime.
In Cebu City, two boys who said they were scavenging under a bridge on Gen. Maxilom Ave. were rescued after they were swept away by floodwaters last Friday.
In Saturday's case, the Talisay City Rescue Action Team came to the aid of Adrian Varquez and Rits Sabay; and Carlo Marinduque and Ernel Badayos of Tabucanal, Pardo.
Of the four, Varquez had the most from bruises in different parts of his body. They were all treated at the Talisay City District Hospital.
They reportedly managed to cling to dangling vines along the riverbank right after the river currents dragged them.
Candulawan residents rescued the fifth survivor, Ronnie Verbosado of Tugas, Pardo, who also suffered bruises. He was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center, Concial said.
Three of the group members were unscathed, as they managed to get out of the river when a sudden gush of water rushed downstream.
Loud thunder preceded the flashfloods, which happened amid heavy clouds and intermittent rains, Concial said.
Concial identified those who escaped unhurt as Jeyboy Gabuya, 22, Arnel Cabaluna, 15 and Jenoy Cabaluna, 21. She said they were already turned over to Bulacao-Pardo Barangay Captain Celerino Cabanca. (Sun.Star Cebu)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (November 5, 2006 issue)
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