2 Missing Children During Heavy Rains Found Safe at Evacuation Center
Two children who were reported missing during the heavy rains were found safe at an evacuation center in Marikina City.
On Monday (August 17, 2026), two missing children were found safe at an evacuation center in Barangay Tumana, Marikina City amid the heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or Habagat.
The children included a Grade 1 pupil and another young resident. They were found by their relatives after the families went to H. Bautista Elementary School, which was being used as an evacuation center for residents affected by flooding.
According to Cherry Lou Balgua, deputy of the school’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management team, one of the children had reportedly been missing since Sunday. A neighbor informed the family that the child might be staying at the evacuation center, prompting them to check the area.
Both children were eventually found safe and were able to return home with their respective families.
The local government had earlier carried out a preemptive evacuation for residents living in low-lying areas as floodwaters continued to rise. H. Bautista Elementary School became one of the largest evacuation centers in Marikina, housing around 190 families or 929 individuals.
Many of the evacuees came from Tumana, an area near a creek. Some residents reported floodwaters reaching knee level, leading families to leave their homes before the situation became worse.
Parents with young children and elderly family members were among those who became especially concerned about their safety. Evacuees were provided with basic assistance, including food and sleeping materials.
One resident, Michelle Carlos, chose to evacuate early with her four children instead of waiting for the floodwater to rise further. She said leaving early was difficult because of the uncomfortable conditions at the evacuation center, but keeping the children safe was more important.
Meanwhile, the local government continued clearing and flushing muddy roads near the Marikina River after the river overflowed.
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