Man swept away by Typhoon Ulysses floodwater in Batangas still missing

The 30-year-old man from Batangas who was carried away by rushing floodwater during the onslaught of typhoon Ulysses has yet to be found by authorities, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said Thursday.

According to John Consulta’s report on “QRT,” the PDRRMO said Michael Gasca was aboard a motorcycle with a companion when the incident happened.

“Meron po kaming reported kagabi na isang missing person sa bayan ng Malvar at ito po ay tumatawid po sa daang tubig na siya po ay naka motorsiklo at dalawa po sila. Pero sa kasamaang palad po ay nawala po ‘yung isa,” Joselito Castro, of the PDRRMO, said.

The PDRRMO said they are still searching for the victim.

“So ‘yun pong magkasanib na puwersa po ng ating mga respondents from the DRRMO, PNP pa rin, atsaka ‘yung Bureau of Fire ay nagpapatuloy po ng search and rescue operations,” Castro said.

“At ‘yan nga po ang fina-follow-up namin ngayon, kung ano po ‘yung development,” he added.

Officials said that 95 percent of the evacuees in Batangas was preemptively evacuated.

“[A]ng atin naman pong mga local government units ay maagap rin naman nagsasagawa ng evacuation kahapon pa bilang preparation,” Castro said.

“At meron na po na mga nagpapauwi at inaasahan po namin hanggang bukas ng umaga kung pagpapatuloy po ang pag ganda ng panahon ay makakauwi na po ang ating mga kababayan sa kani-kanilang tahanan,” he added.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over six areas in Luzon as typhoon Ulysses slightly weakened.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News