Child who hid in refrigerator rescued in Baybay landslide

A boy survived a landslide in Baybay City, Leyte caused by tropical cyclone Agaton after he hid himself inside a refrigerator.

According to Oscar Oida’s report on “24-oras” on Monday, authorities said they found CJ Hasme lying inside a refrigerator during a rescue operation in Barangay Kantagnos.

CJ’s uncle, Juanito Orellano, said the child had multiple fractures to his body but is now recovering in the hospital.

“Noong ni-rescue sana siya ng tiyuhin niya eh, pinaalis niya ‘yung tuyuhin niya kasi delikado na kasi parating na ‘yung malaking landslide. Nagpaiwan na si CJ doon, kaya napasok siya sa ref,” Orellano said.

“When his uncle was supposed to rescue him, he sent him away because a big landslide was coming, and it was very dangerous. CJ was already left there, so he got into the refrigerator.)

Orellano said CJ's parents were buried and killed in the landslide.

“Pinipilit naming huwag muna ipaalam (kay CJ) sa baka makaapekto sa kalusugan niya, eh naririnig siguro niya kasi sa edad niya, parang naiintindihan na niya,” he said.

(We try not to let the CJ know because it might affect his health, but maybe he knows because at his age, he seems to understand.)

“Sa ngayon sir, pinagbabawalan muna namin na tanungin ‘yung bata kasi may trauma siya eh. Iba-iba yung ano, minsan sumisigaw na sa gulat ba,” he added.

(For now, sir, we forbid you to ask the child because he has trauma. It’s different, sometimes he shouts due to shock.)

Based on the latest report of Baybay City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), about 69 persons were still missing in the city.

It added that Barangay Kantagnos has the largest number of missing individuals.

On the other hand, NDRRMC said over 100 people were still missing in Barangay Abuyog. However, authorities were struggling to pinpoint the whereabouts of other residents.

NDRRMC Spokesperson Mark Timbal said they are considering the possibility to cease the search and rescue operations.

“There are lot of considerations to be taken to account itong ating mga teams. For example ‘yung situation sa ground, ‘yung possibility nang makakuha pa ng survivor, at saka safety din ng ating mga search and rescue teams.

There are a lot of considerations to be taken into account by our teams. For example, the situation on the ground, the possibility of getting another survivor, and also the safety of our search and rescue teams.

In the recent official tally of NDRRMC, the reported death toll due to the onslaught of Agaton has increased to 172. -NB, GMA News