2 hikers rescued in Cebu City after rushing waterfall sweeps them away

AN OFFICIAL of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) reminded trail hikers and campers to be extra careful when traveling in the city’s hinterlands.

This after two hikers camping in the vicinity of Tinisig-Uwang falls in Barangay Budlaan, Cebu were rescued on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, after a heavy downpour caused a gush of waters in the falls.

Ayuman, in his Facebook post, said that a certain John Hope Ybas, 23, and Roy (not his real name), 12, went to the Budlaan Barangay Hall after the incident.

The two were safe although their belongings had been washed away.

The two said they arrived at 9:15 a.m on Friday while the weather was still fine, until it started to rain two hours later.

Suddenly, the two were caught by an unexpected flash flood from the falls.

Ayuman said the Tinisig-Uwang falls is one of the longest of the more than 20 waterfalls in Cebu City. which is about 40 meters in height.

Last month, on Sept. 28, three died, including a seven-year-old girl, when a group of tourists was swept by an unexpected gush of water in Tinubdan falls in Catmon, Cebu.

Earlier, Ayuman met with Budlaan barangay officials to discuss measures which would regulate activities in the two falls located in the barangay to avoid the same recent incident in Tinubdan falls in Catmon, Cebu, from happening.

Ayuman said they already started a trail mapping of the falls in Cebu City early this year and on Sept. 29, they were able to meet with Budlaan’s barangay officials.

As of now, he said, they are on the strategic planning stage for the implementation of measures that would regulate activities in Cebu City’s falls. (WBS)