A pick-up truck with 17 passengers was swept away by raging river water in the late afternoon of July 8, 2024 in Barangay Cantumog, Carmen town, north Cebu Province.

Earlier, 10 persons were reported to have survived, six went missing, while the body of an 11-year-old child was recovered by responders later in the night.

The river swelled during a downpour that was coupled with thunder and lightning. It was learned that the 17 were from a mountain resort and were on their way home when the vehicle attempted to cross a creek. But the strength of the flash flood carried the vehicle to the river.

The survivors were taken immediately to the Rural Health Unit of Carmen for medical attention and psychosocial intervention. They were also ferried to their respective homes, this was confirmed in a GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak interview with Engr. Roger Suico, chief of Carmen Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on the search-and-rescue operations being carried out jointly by responders from Carmen and Catmon towns, as well as from Danao City, Cebu; the Philippine Coast Guard 7, and volunteers such as fishermen.

"Duna niy silay kauban nga gikasal adtong Sabado [July 6, 2024], kining pagpundok nila sa mountain resort extension ni of the celebration. Pag-uli nila didto sila miagi sa creek, pero kay nag-overflow na man naanod sila ngadto na gyud sa sapa," Engr. Suico said. 

The pick-up truck that was lodged against a boulder was already pulled out of the river on July 9, 2024 with the help of a group of off-road vehicle owners who also came to the rescue.

As the truck was stopped by the boulder, ten passengers were able to stay atop the rock while waiting for the responders. The seven were swept away. 

The body of the 11-year-old child was retrieved later in the night in Barangay Luyang along Carmen's coastal area, and another body reported to be that of the 26-year-old pregnant woman was recovered in the afternoon of July 9. 

As of posting time, five are still missing.

Responders have scoured Carmen's coastal areas for signs of the five persons.

(via Gabriel Bonjoc/DYSS Super Radyo GMA and Alan Domingo/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)