CEBU, Philippines (UPDATED) – An 11-year-old boy fell into the river while it was raining Saturday morning, July 2. The incident happened in Barangay Valencia, Carcar City here.

“Kids were swimming at the nearby waterfalls on the way home when the 11-year-old slipped off the 70-foot cliff, knocked his head, and landed in the water,” Cebu’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) head Balthazar Tribunalo Jr said in a text message to Rappler.

He said a rescue team from the provincial government was sent to search for the boy at 4 pm, but the boy was “nowhere to be found.” While the rain was not yet heavy in the morning, Tribunalo said the rain had made conditions along the river more dangerous.

Tribunalo said,”The team pulled out at 7 pm and plans to continue looking for the body tomorrow.” 

PAGASA issued a thunderstorm warning over several areas in Metro Cebu Saturday morning. 

Carcar City is 42 kilometers south of Cebu City. A thunderstorm warning had been issued at 3:50 pm to include Naga City, San Fernando, Carcar City, and Sibonga town.

At 4:50 pm, another thunderstorm warning was issued to cover Cebu City, Talisay City, Cordova, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City.

On July 1 and 2, several areas in Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Talisay City had been affected by massive flooding, but no injuries have been reported. Evacuations have likewise not been ordered by local governments in Cebu. – Rappler.com