Death toll in Cebu flash flood now 3 — police

Another body was found following the flash flood at Tinubdan Falls in Catmon, Cebu on Sunday, one of the rescuers from the Catmon Police Station said Tuesday.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, Police Senior Master Sergeant Ben Naveles said they received a report from Carmen Police Station Tuesday morning that a fisherman found a body of a woman.

“May natanggap rin kaming report galing sa Carmen Police Station na may mangingisdang nakatagpo ng babaeng patay na palutang-lutang sa karagatan ng Barangay Luyang, Carmen, Cebu,” he said.

(We also received a report from Carmen Police Station that a fisherman found a female cadaver floating in the sea of Barangay Luyang, Carmen, Cebu)

Catmon Police told GMA News Online that they already found the bodies of all three victims in the incident, earlier identified as Jude Monterola, Jacel Alastra and her daughter, Princess Alastra.

A video showed a flash flood sweeping through the falls while nearby residents trying to rescue Monterola who was stuck holding on to a rock amid the strong current.

Residents used ropes to pull the victim out of the water but failed to save Monterola's life.

Monterola was having a picnic with his relatives, Jacel, and Princess Alastra, near the waterfall. After the picnic, they went swimming near the waterfalls when a flash flood occurred.

Interviewed on GMA Network’s Unang Hirit, survivors Carlos Dolendo and Emmanuel Villamor said they sky was cloudy when they went to the falls and light rain poured 30 minutes after they arrived.

“Mga 30 minutes siguro na nandoon na kami, umulan na siya pero hindi masyadong malakas. Hindi namin in-expect na ganun kalakas (ang agos sa talon),” Dolendo said.

(Around 30 minutes we were there, it already rained but not too heavy. We did not expect that the current would be that strong.)

Villamor said he was saved from the flash flood because he got out of the water to eat.

According to Dolendo, the rescuers took a while to respond because of the distance to the Tinubdan Falls.

Dolendo discouraged the public from going to rivers or falls during bad weather to avoid similar incidents. — RSJ, GMA News