Mother’s body found but daughter still missing in ‘Queenie’ aftermath

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The body of a woman who was carried downstream along with her daughter by flashfloods at the height of tropical depression Queenie Thursday was recovered Friday morning at a lower village in Tayasan, Negros Oriental.

Tayasan Mayor Susano Ruperto Jr. confirmed that Hanilyn Andales, 25, was found dead and stuck in debris along the riverbank in Barangay Sukib, several hundred meters downstream from their residence in Sitio Pasong, Barangay Cambaye.

A resident in Sukib found her Friday morning and immediately called the authorities, said the mayor.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ruperto said the search continues for Andales’ daughter, Je-Ann, 5, who was with her mother when flashfloods swept them away as they were crossing a creek in Cambaye.

He believes the girl must have been buried underneath rubble in the raging waters as heavy rains brought by Queenie caused at least four rivers in Tayasan to swell and overflow on Thursday.

In another development, Mayor Ruperto said he is awaiting a damage assessment report from the town’s agriculture officer on crops affected by the onslaught of  Queenie.  – JMD