Davao City Officials Declare Asik-Asik Falls a Danger Zone Following Fatal Incident

Following a fatal incident at Asik-Asik Falls in Barangay Carmen, Baguio District, Davao City, the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has banned all public activities in the area. The directive comes after three people died and seven others were reported missing due to swift currents at the waterfalls.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Alfredo D. Baloran, head of the CDRRMO, identified the area as a "danger zone" because of its susceptibility to sudden water level increases stemming from the large tributaries of the Talomo River.

"This area is extremely hazardous and not recommended for recreational purposes such as swimming or cooling off," Baloran explained during a briefing with reporters. "There are moments when heavy rains cause sudden and powerful water flows, making it unsafe for visitors."

Baloran further clarified that even when there is no rainfall in other parts of Davao City, heavy water surges can still occur at Asik-Asik Falls due to its location as an upspring area of the Talomo River and its tributaries.

In the days following the incident, the bodies of three victims have been recovered: a 12-year-old girl from Barangay Cawayan, Calinan District; a 13-year-old youth from Barangay Malagos, Baguio District; and a 47-year-old man known as Noel from Barangay Riverside, Calinan District.

According to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), seven individuals remain missing after being swept away by the water’s strong current on September 15, 2025. Meanwhile, over a dozen persons trapped in a separate part of the river were rescued through collaborative efforts involving the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Central 911, the PNP-Search and Rescue unit, and volunteer groups.

The CDRRMO has issued a stern warning to the public, urging them to refrain from entering Asik-Asik Falls for any recreational activities to prevent further tragedies. Local barangay councils of Carmen and Tamayong, together with security clusters and the Bantay Bukid environmental group, have been tasked to strictly enforce the prohibition.

Residents have been advised to exercise caution and comply fully with government warnings.

This incident echoes previous concerns highlighted in February 2022 when the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Mines Geosciences Bureau for the Davao Region released hazard maps indicating that Barangays Carmen and Tamayong are prone to flooding and landslides.

Efforts to obtain statements from the affected barangays were unsuccessful as officials are still coordinating with agencies conducting retrieval operations at the site.