73-year-old man swept by current in Mandaue City still missing

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Rescue teams are searching for a 73-year old man who was swept by the strong current while crossing the Butuanon River through a makeshift raft made of styropor around 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

Faustino Tulod of Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City remained missing as of 7 p.m., according to Mandaue City information officer Roger Paller.

Paller said Tulod was bringing a pail of feeds for his pigs at the pig pen located at the other side of the river when the downpour occurred.

Tulod crossed the river located at the back to his house, using a styropor when his pail accidentally fell from his hand.

He tried to retrieve it but he was swept by the strong current of waters instead, said rescuers from the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, barangays and Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation(ERUF) were conducting search and rescue operation to find Tulod.

The search reached toward the opening of the river in Umapad, but rescuers found only the pail believed to be owned by Tulod. TVJ