INQUIRER FILES

SANTA MAGDALENA, Sorsogon — Rescuers recovered the body of a person reported missing in a rice field in Juban town on Wednesday, Oct. 23, logging the province’s first casualty due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Kristine

The Juban Police identified the victim as Gil Melitante, a former municipal councilor. The body was found around 5 p.m. in Barangay Binanuahan, some 100 meters away from the Cadac-an River.

Melitante’s white car was first recovered by authorities near the location where his body was found.

Authorities said they were initially searching on the downstream of Cadac-an River but they failed to find the body.

The Juban Police first reported Melitante’s disappearance on Tuesday after the storm caused severe flooding in the town.

Melitante was “swept away by the strong current of floodwaters,” as he traversed the Magallanes-Juban Road on Tuesday evening, according to the report.

It further said the victim was able to escape from his vehicle after being trapped by floods.

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