By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO,Agusan del Sur — Authorities have launched a special search and rescue (SAR) operation in Barangay Navarro, Tubajon town in Dinagat Islands, after residents reported a loud, explosion-like sound followed by the discovery of aircraft debris on Wednesday April 8, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Dinagat Islands confirmed.
The aircraft, RP-C2444, is reported to be a light civilian plane, used for private or commercial purposes. Details on its operator and the number of people on board are still being verified.
According to initial reports, the sound was heard at around 1:00 p.m., prompting the immediate deployment of municipal and national response teams to verify the incident and secure the area.
The operation is coordinated by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Tubajon, with reinforcement from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Armed Forces of the Philippines – Philippine Army, and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The SAR is still looking for the victims of the crashed plane, as of press time.
To enhance the search effort, the Provincial Government, under Governor Nilo P. Demerey, Jr., dispatched its Incident Management Team (IMT) and drone specialists to conduct aerial mapping, reconnaissance, and assessment of the affected area.
Authorities assured the public that all measures are being taken to ensure a safe, coordinated, and thorough response, focusing on search, retrieval, and responder safety. Residents are urged to avoid the area and report any relevant information to local authorities.
The PDRRMO promised continuous updates as the situation develops.
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