NATION

Jeep swept away, one missing

Josephine D. Escovidal · Oct 4, 2026, 10:40 PM

JOINT search-and-rescue teams recovered the body of one of two passengers swept away by strong river currents in Barangay Colongan, Rosario, Batangas. The body was located using a drone along a river channel about three kilometers downstream from the site of the incident. — Photograph courtesy of pcg

BATANGAS — The muddy floodwaters came rushing through the spillway, sweeping away a passenger jeep carrying 14 people, leaving one passenger dead and another missing in Rosario, Batangas, on Saturday afternoon

The incident happened at around 4 p.m. on 3 October in Sitio Villa, Barangay Colongan, where the jeep reportedly attempted to cross the spillway despite the strong current.

The vehicle was quickly overwhelmed by the rushing water and swept from the crossing.

Twelve of the 14 occupants managed to survive, but one other remained missing as authorities and rescue personnel launched search, rescue and retrieval operations.

Initial information from the Rosario Municipal Police Station indicated that the driver was unfamiliar with the area.

Video footage from the scene showed the jeep almost completely submerged as muddy floodwaters continued to surge through the spillway, underscoring the danger of attempting to cross despite the strong current.

Rescuers immediately moved in to search for the missing passenger, while authorities continued to assess the incident.

As of the latest report, authorities had yet to release the identity of the missing passenger. Search and retrieval operations were continuing.