ROSARIO, Batangas — A 40-year-old woman was found dead following an overnight search after a jeepney was swept away by strong floodwaters in Barangay Colongan.
Search and rescue operations resumed at around 7 a.m. on October 4, leading to the recovery of the victim’s body at about 8:14 a.m. along the Paninsingin River, specifically in Purok 3, Sitio Pantay-Pantay.
Authorities said the victim’s body was found trapped between rocks, approximately 1.3 kilometers’ aerial distance from the spillway where the jeep was carried away by the current.
Jeepney carrying 14 swept away by floodwaters Batangas
Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and Rosario Municipal Police Station led the retrieval operations, with assistance from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and barangay officials.
A post-mortem examination will be conducted on the victim.
Operations are ongoing to locate another male individual who remains missing.
The incident occurred Saturday afternoon when a jeepney carrying 14 passengers attempted to cross a spillway along the river but was swept away by rising floodwaters.
Twelve passengers were rescued by residents, while a couple on board was initially reported missing.
According to Rosario MDRRMO OIC Paul de Castro, multiple methods were used in the search efforts.
“May magpapalipad po ng drone, may magsisisid po para kapain kung nandodoon yung mga biktima,” he said.
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He also warned motorists about the dangers of crossing spillways during high water levels.
“Usually ang spillway, pababa po iyan. Akala po ay mababaw lang. Iyon po ay malalim. So magtanong po sa locals na huwag basta-basta tatawid kasi iyon po yung mga nagiging pagkakamali ng karamihang motorista,” he added.
Barangay officials said the survivors were immediately assisted after being rescued.
“Yung mga survivor naman ho noong mai-ahon ng mga tanod, pinapunta ho namin dine sa barangay hall. Sabi namin kayo maligo, magbihis, magpalit ng damit tapos pinakain ho ng mga nasa barangay,” a barangay official said.
Residents maintained that the spillway has long been hazardous.
“Mataas ho dito. Hindi talaga kayang tumawid kahit truck. Kahit yung malalaking sasakyan,” said 59-year-old resident Virgilio Barbosa.
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Another resident pointed out drainage issues in the area.
“Ang problema dito, napakaliit ng imburnal… kaya kapag umulan, nadadala yung mga kawayan at kung ano-anong kahoy. Bumabara diyan kaya umaagos ang tubig dito,” Joel Matulac, resident of Barangay Colongan, said.
Authorities continue to remind the public to avoid crossing spillways during high water levels to prevent similar incidents.