Boy's body recovered after Calamba City river flooding; sister still missing

LUCENA CITY — Search and rescue teams recovered the body of a 7-year-old boy on Thursday (July 23), four days after he was swept away by raging floodwaters in Calamba City in the province of Laguna. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division (CDRRMD) said the boy’s body was found shortly after 4 p.m. in a section of the San Cristobal River. Authorities, however, are still searching for his 9-year-old sister, who remains missing. READ: 2 kids missing after riverbank landslide in Calamba City “The search continues for the remaining missing child as authorities carry out the necessary procedures and maintain close coordination with concerned agencies to ensure the orderly continuation of the operation,” the CDRRMD said. The siblings were reported missing after a landslide caused their house to collapse along the riverbank in Barangay Mapagong on Sunday (July 19). Authorities said the landslide was triggered by the sudden rise of the river due to heavy rainfall. Several other houses built along the riverbank were also damaged in the incident. Meanwhile, on Friday (July 24), disaster officials warned residents to remain vigilant as continuing rains may cause the water levels of the San Juan River, the San Cristobal River, and their tributaries to rise further. “Residents living near rivers and in low-lying areas are advised to prepare for possible flash floods. Continue monitoring official advisories and be ready to evacuate immediately if necessary,” the CDRRMD said in its advisory in Filipino. /das