CEBU CITY — A 15-year-old girl drowned Monday morning after she was swept away by raging floodwaters caused by heavy rains brought about by tropical cyclone “Auring” in Barangay Landahan, Toledo City, some 50 kilometers west of Cebu City.
Engineer Alexander Abella, disaster risk reduction management officer of Toledo City, said Hannah Bea Villaflores’ body was recovered in Sitio Angkay at 11:40 a.m. Monday, about three kilometers from the area where she was swept away by the flood.
Abella said Villaflores was assisting a car that was passing by the area.
”The flood water was already at chest level and she was washed away by the strong water current,” Abella said.
Abella said witnesses saw that Villaflores lost her balance and hurt her head before she disappeared into the water.
Abella said Villaflores was so far the only fatality reported in Toledo City in the wake of tropical cyclone “Auring”.
Abella said several billages in Toledo City, including Captain Claudio, Canlumampao, Cambang-og, Carmen and portions of barangay Poblacion, experienced flooding due to heavy rain showers since Sunday night.
As of Monday noon, at least 20 families were already evacuated at Barba Sports Complex in Toledo City. Eddie Barrita/PNA-northboundasia.com