DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 17 Sept) — Local authorities are still searching for the three remaining missing local tourists who were swept away by a strong current while swimming at the Mini Asik-Asik Falls along the Talomo River in Barangay Carmen, Baguio District last Sunday, according to an official from the Davao City Police Office (DCPO). During the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Capt. Hazel Caballero Tuazon, DCPO spokesperson, stated that search and retrieval teams are working tirelessly to locate the missing individuals. The rescue teams include personnel from the local government, police forces, and barangay officials. Several individuals were reportedly swimming in the river when the water level suddenly rose. Tuazon noted that 12 people were stranded but later rescued, while seven others went missing. Out of the seven, four bodies have been retrieved along the Talomo River Channel as of Monday. The recovered individuals include a 47-year-old man from Barangay Talomo, a 12-year-old girl from Barangay Buhangin, an 11-year-old boy from Barangay Tamayong, and a 29-year-old woman from Barangay Buhangin. Tuazon urged the public to report any bodies found along the river to authorities immediately. She also mentioned that while the local government prohibits recreational activities in watershed areas, some privately owned properties within these zones allow local tourists to enter. On August 10, 2021, the Davao City Council passed an ordinance regulating recreational activities within watershed-conservation areas to protect and preserve the natural environment. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
