DAVAO CITY (September 16) – A flash flood in Barangay Carmen, Baguio District, on Sunday destroyed Mini Asik-Asik Falls, a tributary of the Talomo River, killing four people and leaving three more missing.
A 47-year-old man, a 12-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy, and a 29-year-old woman were among the four people who died, according to a report released Monday by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
The sudden heavy rains caused a surge of water through the falls, trapping some swimmers. Seven people were first reported missing, while at least 12 more were rescued.
At 3:20 p.m. Monday, CDRRMO chief Alfredo Baloran ordered a temporary halt to retrieval activities because of the bad weather. Operations are set to restart on Tuesday, should conditions improve.
Baloran reaffirmed the warning against visiting the falls, noting the dangers of landslides and flash floods. “The Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Davao declared the area a danger zone as early as 2022 due to its susceptibility to landslides, especially during heavy rains,” says Baloran.
According to Baloran, access to the site is still strictly forbidden, as are all other activities.
