A mother and her children in Balamban, Cebu survived the intense flooding during Typhoon Tino's onslaught by hugging a house pillar for about four hours.

The woman’s husband sought refuge at the top of a madre cacao (Gliricidia tree) when their house was inundated.

By staying atop the tree while his wife and their children were hugging the house post, they survived the ordeal.

Prior to the flood, the Yray family considers their location in Barangay Cantuod, Balamban town, midwest of Cebu Province, a paradise. Their house is located on a five-hectare farm replete with fruit-bearing trees, vegetables, and livestock.

However, the deluge happened and washed out everything that the family worked hard for in years.

Reynoso (Rey) Yray and his wife, Vilma, said they did not see the catastrophe coming.

Though they are situated near two rivers, they have no inkling that the confluence of two rivers would bring in too much water to wash away everything that they worked hard for.

Rey said that they have seen flooding in the past, but Typhoon Tino dumped a month’s-worth of rain that sent both Sapang Gamay and Sapangdaku swollen.

The surge overwhelmed the banks, the water spilled on to their property with a turbulent flow, inundating everything on its path.

Rey described that the water flowed seemingly like that of sea waves. He meant “flood waves.”

The good thing though was that they were able to keep safe their gadgets and important documents at the balcony of their house.

Meanwhile, Rave Bryan, the son, hugged his mother tight and younger sister while holding tight to a post of their house.

At past 5 a.m. on November 4, 2025, the floods rushed and inundated their entire property. It only receded by 10 a.m.

Amid the harrowing experience, they continued to praise the goodness of the Lord for keeping them safe while weathering the storm.

According to Balamban Mayor Amos Cabahug, while almost all barangays in the said town were flooded, Barangays Cantuod and Nangka were the hardest hit.

At least 2,070 families have been affected in Barangay Nangka, while 1,400 families in Barangay Cantuod.

GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak checked the site and saw immense devastation.

As of this writing, the Local Government Unit (LGU) has no data yet on damages to infrastructure, as the priority is fixed on the clearing and relief operations.

Further, Balamban is one of Cebu Province's LGUs that logged the most number of casualties. Of 14 deaths, 11 were identified while three remain unidentified.

At least 15 individuals are still missing.

Cabahug said that residents have put the blame also on the flood control projects in Balamban that apparently defeated their purpose.

The news team saw that a revetment wall runs along Sapang Gamay.

As the mayor assumed office only in 2025, he is bent on an investigation into the flood control projects in Balamban.