A nine-year-old boy who was swept away by floodwaters while trying to retrieve a ball in Cebu City was found dead in a river in Mandaue City nearly 20 hours later.
Mike Yuri Repaja was found at around 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, in Sitio Toril, Barangay Tingub, Mandaue City, after residents reported seeing a child in the river.
Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) officer Ferl-John Pacaldo said responders received the report from the boy’s relatives and Mandaue City responders.
“Mga 10 a.m. on Wednesday, nakadawat ta og report sa relative and responders sa Mandaue nga adunay nakit-an nga bata,” Pacaldo said.
The boy’s mother, Rosalie Repaja, later confirmed his identity after responders showed her the body.
Mike Yuri was swept away at around 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, while playing with a friend beside a creek in Sitio Gawad Kalinga, Barangay Budlaan, Cebu City, according to Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) head and Councilor Dave Tumulak.
Tumulak said the boy had been playing with a ball when it fell into the creek amid heavy rain and flooding.
Residents tried to catch him as the current carried him toward Sitio Metaville in Talamban, but the boy was eventually swept away.
Search and rescue teams immediately began operations along the creek and connected river system.
Tumulak said responders also coordinated with authorities in Mandaue City in case the current carried the boy downstream.
The search continued overnight until residents in Sitio Toril reported the discovery the following morning.
The Mandaue City command center then coordinated with the boy’s family and responders for the recovery and identification.
Mike Yuri had been missing for about 20 hours from the time he was swept away Tuesday afternoon until responders found his body Wednesday morning.
Rosalie said her son had been playing with a friend when the ball was carried away by floodwaters.
He reportedly reached for it before the strong current pulled him into the flooded creek.
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