Legazpi City (outlined in red) in Albay (Image from Google Maps)
LEGAZPI CITY – Eight members of a family who tried to evacuate on Tuesday before Tropical Storm Jolina made landfall in Masbate were reported missing in Balud town, police said.
Colonel Joriz Cantoria, Masbate police chief, identified the missing persons as Romeo Bataican, 36; his wife Roda, 35; and their children Roldan, 18, Romelyn, 14, Rico, 10, Nongnong, 9, Marlon, 6, and Toto, 5.
The family members, who reside in an islet Sitio Zapatilio of Barangay Zapatos of the town, were last known to have boarded a motorized boat at around 9 a.m. on Tuesday and were headed for the town of Carles in Iloilo province.
Cantoria said authorities were still conducting search and rescue operations.