In a coordinated search and retrieval operation, authorities recovered the remains of an adult and a child from an area devastated by #KristinePH in Barangay Don Juan, Cuenca, Batangas.

The operation was carried out on October 28, 2024. The search began after the Philippine Coast Guard’s working dog, Optimus, detected signs of human remains in the area.

With support from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Air Force Reservists (PAFR), Batangas and Makati City Disaster teams, and Cuenca’s local disaster office, crews marked the location and began digging.

By 9:30 a.m., responders discovered one body and found the second at 1:28 p.m.

What they found were the remains of a 35-year-old adult and a 13-year-old child, both residents of Barangay Don Juan.

The remains were turned over to the families.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and assisting agencies extended their condolences to the grieving families.

“The Philippine Coast Guard extends its deepest condolences to the families affected by this tragedy and appreciates the collaborative efforts of all agencies involved in the search and recovery operation,” the PCG said in a statement.

As of October 29, 2024, the National Disaster Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 54 people were reported dead, 33 injured, and 24 still missing in CALABARZON due to #KristinePH.

A total of 108 roads and six bridges remain impassable, the NDRRMC said in its 8 a.m. update.

At least 75 areas remain flooded in the region, affecting 1,544 barangays.

Over 163,000 families were affected, or over 701,000 individuals, with almost 37,000 people still inside evacuation centers.