Authorities urge caution as retrieval operations conclude; community mourns tragic loss
MIDSALIP, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR — A quiet midweek evening turned tragic for a family in Barangay Timbaboy after a 7-year-old girl and her 50-year-old uncle were swept away by a sudden surge of floodwaters while crossing a river on their way home on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Authorities identified the victims as 7-year-old Empress Khee and her uncle, 50-year-old farmer Cesar Tanggolo, whom she had been walking home with from Canipay Sur Elementary School shortly before the incident.
According to witnesses, the two attempted to cross the river at around 6:35 p.m. when the water unexpectedly swelled, dragging them downstream. The strong current left them with no chance to escape.
Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 9—under the leadership of FCSUPT Jerry Duhina Candido, DSC, and FSUPT Lucio P. Albaracin, DSC—along with responders from the Midsalip Municipal Fire Station, MDRRMO, and Midsalip Police, immediately launched a search and retrieval operation. Under the supervision of SFO3 Raquel D. Hisoler, teams scoured the river in the dark and later found the victims’ bodies roughly a kilometer from the crossing point.
The two were rushed to the Midsalip Infirmary Hospital but were declared dead on arrival.
Local authorities have since extended their sympathies to the grieving family. Community members in Barangay Timbaboy have also expressed deep sorrow over the loss, especially for young Empress, whose life was cut short in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner.
The remains of the victims have been turned over to their family for their final rest.
As the community mourns, BFP Midsalip is urging the public to remain vigilant, especially during unpredictable weather conditions that may cause rivers to rise without warning. “Safety should always come first when crossing waterways,” the agency stressed.
The tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the dangers posed by flash floods and the need for heightened alertness during the rainy season.