A 48-year-old man survived while another man is still missing after they were swept away by floodwaters in separate areas in Davao Region.

The survivor, Wilfredo Hambo, was swept away by floodwaters after a portion of a dike in Barangay Calinan Proper, Davao City collapsed following heavy rains afternoon on Sunday, June 30, 2024.

He was able to hold to a tree and pull his way up with the help of a rope a resident threw at him.

Hambo sustained injuries on his stomach and feet.

“Nakagunit ko og gamot, kahoy ba nga dako, nakagunit ko og kahoy. Mao tong nisaka ko sa kahoy, naa pud naggukod sa akoa taga-teachers, mao to gitabangan ko nila, giitsahan ko og pisi,” Hambo said.

Before the dike gave in, residents have already noticed cracks on the structure. Some debris and a carabao were also seen swept away by raging waters.

Barangay chairman Pedrito Angco said at least 11 families were affected and were brought to the evacuation center.

“First among gihatod sa evacuation center ang mga pamilya nga naapektuhan. Dunay 11 families nga apektuhan, kadto lang pud sa portion nga naay damage sa dike,” Angco said.

Meanwhile, a man believed to be under the influence of alcohol was swept away by floodwaters in Barangay Coronon, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

In a video, the man, Ramil Dulay, was seen going down a dike and seemed to be pointing at something. Seconds later, he was seen going into the water and that was the time he was swept away.

“Murag naa daw to siya’y gipunit ata to diria nga basura ba to o kahoy ba to iyahang gipunit. Unya pagkahuman siguro nanghunaw. Unya kining gibabaan niya diria, wala siya nakatungtong sa bato nga buo kundi nakatungtong siya aning mga graba lang gud tapos nakankan na ang sa ilalom,” Dulay’s sister, Mary Ann Jumuad, said.

He is still missing, as of this writing.

Authorities already launched a search and rescue operation.

“Retrieval operations na gyud ang among matawag ato kay murag lisod na gyud kaayo to makaplagan nga naa pa’y kinabuhi kay tungod sa kakusog sa tubig nga iyahang gisaluman kagahapon,” Romulo Birondo, chief of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said.

Some structures at four resorts near the Langan River in the same barangay were also damaged.