Man swept away in flash flood

CEBU, Philippines - A 27-year-old taxi driver remains missing as of press time after he was allegedly swept by swelling river water in Bacayan yesterday morning following an hour of rain.

Edward Mansalay, resident of the said barangay, reportedly had gone to bathe in the river past 11:00 a.m. yesterday when he was caught by the flood.

 There were also reports that Mansalay was drunk and fell into the river.

“Nakadawat ta ug report nga naka inom daw ang biktima nga nahug sa sapa unya kusog ang bul-ong sa tubig ug possibling naanod to siya,” Dominador Suico Jr. of Apas Emergency Response Team (AERT) told The FREEMAN.

The Bureau of Fire Protection’s search rescue unit and other rescue groups in Cebu City immediately launched the search and rescue operation yesterday afternoon but the efforts failed.

As of 6:00 p.m. yesterday, rescue groups failed to locate the victim in the river.

Meanwhile, four houses at sitio Kumon, Bacayan were reportedly damaged by a minor landslide that hit the area during the heavy downpour yesterday morning.

The houses of Seno Salostiano Jr., Maria Vargas, Morga Hazel and Christy Lipalam were partially covered with soil. — (FREEMAN)