THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has activated a retrieval team as efforts are underway to locate and recover the remains of a man who was swept by strong current in a river amid the inclement weather spawned by Typhoon Ompong.
Medardo Caare Jr. remained missing since he was swept by strong current on Saturday, September 15, while he was retrieving pieces of wood in Tumaga river.
The river in Tumaga swelled due to heavy downpour spawned by the southwest monsoon that was enhanced by Typhoon Ompong.
Barangay Tumaga chief Jackie Lim has requested the assistance of the PCG as Caare has not yet been found.
Lieutenant Commander Noriel Ramos, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said the retrieval team is composed of divers from his command.
"We need to pinpoint first the location of the victim's body before we initiate our mission because the stretch of Tumaga river towards the seashore is very long. It will [take] time if we will scour every corner of the riverbank," Ramos said.
He said although they hope that Caare is still alive, there is a slim chance of survival since he has been missing since September 15. (SunStar Philippines)