SEVEN senior citizens and a child on Saturday night died when the passenger jeep they were riding was swept away by a flash flood in a river in Tanay, Rizal.
Police identified the fatalities as Maylard Keith Fernandez, Teresita Quinto, Leonida Doroteo, Salvacion Delgado, Carmen Dela Cruz, Esmena Doroteo, Deodora Buera and Avelino Buera.
Tanay Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Norberto Matienzo Jr. said the victims were seven elders and a five-year-old child.
The victims were on their way home on a jeepney when raging floodwaters forced their vehicle to turn on its side around in a river in Bgy. Sta Ines at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday.
Matienzo said the body of one of the victims was found in the river near Bgy. Tinucan in Tanay while the rest of the bodies were found inside the passenger jeep.
The Tanay MDRRMO head said 25 passengers were on the jeep when the incident happened.
An investigation showed the seniors went to the town to get their cash aid from the local government.
“Ayon sa imbestigasyon, dapat daw ay alas-3 ng hapon nakaangat na ‘yung biyahe upland, pero inabot sila ng ala-6 ng gabi dahil nga doon sa pag-iintay sa ating mga senior citizen,” Matienzo said.
“Ang sabi ng pahinante, binabatak sila ng isa pang sasakyan dahil nabalahaw sila. Inabutan sila ng malakas na bugso ng baha. ‘Yun ang naging dahilan kaya tumagilid ‘yung kanilang sasakyan,” he added.
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