A 48-year-old woman went missing after being swept away by the strong currents of Bauang River during the heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon, enhanced by #CarinaPH in Bauang, La Union.

EJhay Gurion has taken to social media, pleading for help to find his mother, Adeline Gurion, who disappeared on July 24 in Barangay Urayong.

EJhay said his mother had gone behind their house to check the water level in the river but never returned.

“Noong time na nawala si mother ko, malakas ang ulan at diretso ang tubig sa ilog… ‘Yung bahay namin [nasa] tabi lang ng ilog,” Gurion said.

Authorities have launched a search and rescue operation in the Bauang River. However, the continuous heavy rain is making the search difficult.

“Gagawin namin lahat ng makakaya namin para mahanap [siya],” Aldrin Rimas, Bauang Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) Operations Head, said.

In another incident, a 64-year-old man from Barangay Halog East, Tubao, also went missing after being swept away by river currents.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) continues to search for him.

Meanwhile, river levels in the province remain high, causing flooding in several areas. 

In Barangay Bungru Road, San Fernando City, strong water currents have created hazardous conditions. 

Areas near to the river and mountainous regions had evacuations.

“Itong mga areas na ito ay malalapit sa mga bodies of water. Some are near the river, some are nasa mountainous na area kaya kinailangang mag-evacuate,” Rowan Joshua Dimaculangan, La Union Provincial Information Officer, said.