MANDAUE CITY, Philippines — A five-year-old girl, who was playing in the rain with her three-year-old brother, died after she fell into a canal and was swept by strong surge of the floodwaters into a culvert in Sitio Lourdes, Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City in the afternoon of Monday, September 11.
Jagobiao Barangay Captain Michael Masinas said that the child was swept into a culvert and was found in Sitio Sto. Rosario, about 300 meters away from the area of the incident.
READ: Photos and videos of flooding in Metro Cebu
Girl died in hospital
Masinas said that the girl was rescued and was taken to the hospital.
But around 7 p.m. on Monday, the attending physician declared her dead.
Here is the canal where the 5-year-old girl fell after she tried to pick the slipper of her 3-year-old brother during the heavy rain on Monday afternoon in Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City. | Mary Rose Sagarino
Masinas said that the mother told him that her child suffered bruises in various parts of her body and head, and she had also drank a lot of floodwater.
According to Josephine Abasolo, a neighbor of the victim who witnessed the incident, that the the girl was chasing after a slipper of her young brother that fell off his feet while he was playing in the rain with his elder sister.
READ: Floods hit some areas in Mandaue, Cebu cities
Girl chased after brothers slipper
The girl chased after the slipper but when she was about to pick it up, she fell into the canal and got carried by the strong surge of the floodwater into the culvert.
Angelie Balbuena, one of the neighbors of the victim, said that they searched the other parts of the canal trying to rescue the girl.
Balbuena said that one of the residents was able to hold the hand of the girl in the culvert but because of the strong surge of the floodwater, the girl’s hand slipped from the grip of the resident and was carried further away into the culvert.
The girl was eventually found stuck in a culvert in Sitio Sto. Rosario and there they were able to rescue the girl.
READ: Floods prompt evacuation of some individuals in Mandaue
Neighbor: girl, mom came from school
Balbuena said that the incident happened after the mother of the victim picked her up from school and allowed her to play in the rain outside their home with her three-year-old brother.
She said that the incident happened a few minutes after the mother went inside their house to get something.
According to Balbuena, the mother, who was shocked at the tragic accident, was not expecting that would happen especially since she went inside the house to get something and left the children alone for only a few minutes.
Residents of sitio Papaya and Mangga in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia, who were affected by the flood on Friday afternoon, waited for their names to be listed by personnel of the City Social Welfare and Services at the barangay’s gymnasium. | Mary Rose Sagarino
READ: Pagasa: Rain in parts of Luzon, fairer weather in Vis-Min
Floods hit some areas in Mandaue
Meanwhile, because of the heavy downpour, other areas in Mandaue City also experienced flooding.
In Barangay Ibabao-Estancia, 116 families and at least 334 individuals were evacuated.
“Sa kadugay na nako pagpuyo dinhi mao pa to pinaka-taas nga tubig, lapas gyud sa tawo, sa first floor,” said 60-year-old Glenda Custodio.
(For the longest time that I have lived here, this is the first time that the water rose that much, it rose past the height of a normal person, in the first floor of the house.)
READ: Intense to torrential rains inundate parts of Metro Cebu – Pagasa Mactan
First time in 43 years
“1980 pa mi nagpuyo dinhi, karun pa nahitabo nga taas kaayo ang tubig,” said Nancy Deo, 43 years old.
(We have been here since 1980 and it is now that the water rose that much.)
They believed that the constructed road near their area might be the reason for the flood because the drainage there was small and was blocked by mud and garbage.
A man is picking things from his house, that can still be used, his house was damaged because of the landslide on Friday afternoon. | Mary Rose Sagarino
Why the water rose
Barangay Captain Romulo Echavez, said that the culvert and drainage in a waterway at the tip of the newly constructed road were their main problem.
“Close na gyud siya. Dili na madala og limpyo namo, everytime nga mag-uwan. Dili man makaagi didto sa pikas, moback flow gyud siya,” he said.
(The drainage is really close. We cannot clean it, everytime that it rains. The water cannot flow to the other side and this will really back flow.)
Echavez said that he already raised the concern to the city government. A project may also be implemented there through the Office of Congresswoman Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon.
Echavez said that his personnel always visited the flood-prone areas and informed and advised them to always prepare and evacuate the area if needed.
Landslide in Maguikay
Moreover, 14 families and 39 individuals were evacuated after a landslide occurred in Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Maguikay.
Barangay Captain Eduardo Gumera said that the area was already cordoned off and that residents were being prohibited to go back and built a house there because of the danger.