CEBU, Philippines - The 73-year-old man who was washed away by the raging waters of the Butuanon River two days ago has been found dead in the waters off Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City.
Felix Suico Jr., Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief, said a fisherman saw the body of Faustino “Tinoy” Tulod of Sitio Salvacion, Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City past 1 p.m. yesterday.
His office learned of the discovery from a Paknaan barangay tanod and immediately sent a team to retrieve Tulod’s body.
Tulod died after an improvised raft made of styrofoam he was using to cross the river overturned when he tried to recover his pail that fell into the water last Wednesday.
The river’s current that time was strong as a result of a heavy downpour.
“Ang panginabuhian ana kay kanang pagpatabok og mga resident gamit ang improvised nga raft made of styropor. Itabok niya ngadto sa pikas tampi,” Suico said.
Tulod’s son saw how his father fell into the water and got carried away but was unable to rescue him.
The son rushed downstream to Sitio Cambugaong in Paknaan in the hopes of finding his father at that part of the river but only the pail was there.
Suico said they had constantly reminded the residents, especially those living near the river, to watch out for possible flashfloods and landslides.
“Gi-advise-san man gyud na nato ang mga residente, ilabi na diha sa Maguikay, Tabok, Tingub, Casuntingan. Nag-atbang ra man na sila. Naa’y portion ana nga delikado sa landslide,” Suico said.
He said this is the first time this year that a person got carried away by the Butuanon River. (FREEMAN)