Death toll up to 23, 22 still missing as 25 survive raging waters
Volunteers bring down the truck one of
the cadavers recovered from the
Tangyan River in Igbaras as families of
the victims wait at the Rural Health Unit.
Igbaras, Iloilo--Hopes of finding any more survivors in the raging waters of Tangyan River along Igbaras, Iloilo dimmed as members of rescue groups now similarly focused current efforts to search and retrieval operations from Monday's "search and rescue."
As of noon Tuesday, the number of survivors remained at 25, the death toll now up to 23 as 22 others remain missing and feared dead in what stands to be the worst tragedy to hit this Iloilo southern town.
The incident occurred late Monday morning after a passenger jeepney carrying some 70 passengers who attended the burial of a certain Remo Eguico in Igbaras town proper was carried away by the raging current of water while crossing the 120-meter Sungsongan "overflow" bridge by Barangay Barasan.
Recue workers help residents cross the
Sungsongon overflow bridge, whre the
ill-fated jeepney fell, amid strong water
current on Monday.
Igbaras Rural Health Unit identified the 23 recovered dead bodies as: Zenaida Escubin, 63, Redelia Pait, 66, Rufino Efalan, 73, Domingo Embellado, 48, Kent Anthony Efalan, 3, Rodolfo Hermoso, 63, Josefina Efalan, 65, Encarnacion Javelona, 58, Aida Elmadin, 48, Estelita Mampula, 68, Luisa Elumba, 66, Remedios Ecijo, 68, Virgie Eguilos, 61, Evangeline Embiado, 33, Karylle Vien Efalan, 8, Romulo Mampula, 59, Marvin Del Rio, Anecito Ermeje, Margie Elumba, Margarita Ecijo, Margarito Elumba, Emma Flor Mampula and Antonio Estrellanes.
Those who are still missing as of press time are Ruel Efalan, Kris Vincent Efalan, Conchita Embalsado, Doris Estrellanes, Ponciano Edang, Esperanza Efalan, Fermina Odanggo, Eugenia Teves, Constancio Teves, Josefina Embate, Asuzena Idca, Rosalinda Esmediana, Rudy Niocasion, Jude Conde, Junior Pidok Ibanog, Tony Jim Estrellanes, Romulo Erpe, Rose Idca, Victor Embiado, Merlyn Javelona and Linda Ermeje.
Driver Margarito "Boy" Edang was among the 25 survivors. He sustained injuries in the different parts of his body.
Edang told a radio interview that the jeepney's engine suddenly stopped a few meters away from river bank causing it to be carried away by the water eventually falling down the river.
Mayor Jaime Esmeralda said the municipal government will give financial help of P5,000 each to the family of the casualties.
Similarly, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) through its chair Chief Supt. Geary Barias said that they will be giving P10,000 each to the victim's families.
While, Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. who personally visited the site on Monday vowed to give P250,000 as financial assistance to the victims of the tragedy.
Monday's tragedy is not the first for Igbaras and for residents of Barangay Barasan. A marker stands as a grim reminder to the community here of the 1985 landmine explosion that took the lives of seven police officers and an army soldier. Members of the communist terrorist New People's Army claimed victory then on the deaths of the government agents.
Locals also told of countless deaths in the past years as motorists braved the river and crosses the 120-meter expanse even with the overflowing raging waters.
Brigida Capicio, a kagawad of Barangay Barasan, said almost every year somebody is being swallowed by the raging waters of the Tangyan River which overflows the Sunsongan bridge every time heavy rains occur in the mountains.
"The people don't have a choice. This is the only way where they can cross the other side," Capicio said in Hiligaynon.
"Kon wala man bagyo, maayo na dira agyan. May "overflowing bridge" man mo, (If there is no typhoon, that is a good passage. See there's an "overflowing bridge" there)" a resident shared as another quipped, "siguro ipakaayo na gid man na nila subong kay damo na nga kabuhi ang gindaga subong. Amo na ni ang ginahulat sang mga opisyales namon para mahulag sila (Hopefully this will be reconstructed now with many lives sacrificed here. This is what our officials have waited for them to act) (on the project) ."
The "overflowing bridge," cemented ramp cum single lane "road" with no side rails, serves as the only link to the mainland of eleven barangays with daily commute from three double-tired passenger jeepneys to and from the town proper. The overloading of up to three times its capacity is a normal occurrence and allowed by local officials for years.