10-year-old boy missing amid Bicol flooding —official

A 10-year-old boy went missing in Irosin, Sorsogon, amid the flooding in the Bicol Region, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 5 said Monday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, OCD-5 spokesperson Gremil Naz said search and rescue, as well as retrieval, operations are being conducted to find the missing boy.

“May nai-report po sa amin na may isa pong missing na 10-year-old male sa Barangay Tabon-Tabon, Irosin. Nawala po siya noong January 9, 2021 at last seen near Cadacan River,” Naz said.

On January 1, OCD-5 reported that two individuals in Garchitorena, Camarines Sur went missing after their boats capsized on New Year’s Eve.

Due to heavy rains, Naz said some areas in Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes were flooded.

“As reported po sa amin, meron pa po tayong flooded areas lalo na po 'yung spillways,” he said.

“Meron pong umaabot ng hanggang tuhod. Pero sa ibang ricefields naman po at mga barangay road, nasa ankle level po,” he added.

Clearing operations are still ongoing in landslide-hit areas in  Sorsogon, which was also affected by typhoons late last year.

At least 104 people or 26 families were staying in evacuation centers, while 350 people or 80 families were staying in other private houses amid the threat of flooding.

According to Naz, concerned local government units are assisting the needs of the evacuees.

On Monday, state weather bureau PAGASA said the Bicol Region will experience cloudy skies with light rains due to the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan), which is affecting Luzon. —KBK, GMA News