3 women killed in MisOr spillway mishap

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Three women were killed when the tricab they were riding was swept by raging flood waters while crossing a spillway in Barangay Damayan, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental (MisOr) Saturday evening.

Report from the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office identified the victims as Jocelyn Caculba, Erlinda Dahay and Melodina Gana, all residents of Balingasag town.

The victim who are employees of a private corporation in Villanueva town were going home on board a Bao Bao (tricab) when heavy rains began pouring about 5 p.m. Upon reaching the Camayan spillway at about 7 p.m., the water was already rising but the driver of the tricab decided to cross on the insistence of the passenger.

While crossing, a flash flood suddenly swept the tricycle down the river throwing the passengers into the raging flood. The driver was able to swim to safety while the victims were carried downstream of the river.

Rescue workers recovered the body of Caculba about 11 p.m., Dahay’s body was found 30 minutes later.

The bloated body of the third victim was found a kilometer away from the spill way Sunday afternoon.