Flood survivor searches for missing wife, kids



One of the most dramatic footages taken by ABS-CBN showed a group of people including little children riding sheets of corrugated roofing and other debris while being swept away by a raging river in San Mateo, Rizal last Saturday.

As horrified onlookers watched, the group was swept under the San Mateo Batasan bridge and their makeshift "raft" shattered to pieces. Only one person was rescued after grabbing a rope thrown over the bridge by rescuers.

On Monday, one of the survivors of the incident showed up in ABS-CBN to ask for help in the search for his missing wife and two kids.

Eric Boquiron said he, his wife Maritess, and two kids had been monitoring the water level near their shanty in Bagong Silangan village, Quezon City as early as Friday night even before tropical storm Ondoy (international codename Ketsana) made landfall. Soon enough, chest-deep floodwater entered their house and forced them to go up on the roof.

Four of Boquiron's cousins tried to help the family but failed after the rope they were using broke. As a result, the entire family was swept away by the current.

"A lot of houses [in Barangay Silangan] were destroyed by the flood. I even saw families with babies as they tried to hang on to the roofs of their houses while the water swept them away," he told ABS-CBN.

Boquiron said he, his wife and children, ages 3 and 6, were separated even before they reached the San Mateo Batasan bridge. He said he placed his three-year-old daughter inside a plastic tub, which was swept away by the current.

He said he was only rescued after reaching the Marikina River. Until now, he said he has yet to find his wife and two children.

Boquiron appealed to authorities to help him find his wife and children. He said his youngest daughter is celebrating her birthday today.

At least 27 people were reported killed while 108 remain missing after a flash flood hit Bagong Silangan last Saturday. Eleven of the fatalities have been brought to the barangay's covered court while the remaining 16 are in the Tahuna Funeral Parlor.

Bagong Silangan Barangay Chairman Armando Indaya said at least 708 families are now staying in the Bagong Silangan covered court.

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