THE DEATH toll from the devastating flash flood that struck Barangay Tanuman in this municipality on Friday, July 10, 2026, has risen to three, local officials confirmed.
In an update released by Jose Abad Santos Mayor Jason John Joyce as of 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, search and retrieval teams have recovered three bodies from the disaster site.
Meanwhile, emergency responders are racing against time as six individuals remain missing. One resident was reported injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The tragedy occurred after intense, localized heavy rains triggered a sudden rush of floodwaters, catching residents by surprise and sweeping away several homes.
Joint rescue teams—composed of personnel from the Provincial and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (PDRRMO/MDRRMO), the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, and local volunteers—are actively scouring the affected areas and coastlines to locate the six missing residents.
Local authorities continue to conduct a Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDANA) to determine the full extent of the displacement and structural damage in Barangay Tanuman and neighboring areas.
Mayor Joyce has urged residents in low-lying and landslide-prone areas to stay vigilant and cooperate with evacuation orders as weather monitoring persists.
