GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 25 January) — Two schoolchildren died after drowning in a creek in an outskirt village in Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato on Wednesday afternoon.
Roberto Bagong, head of the Lake Sebu Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said Thursday Jillian Adel Isay, 7, and Jesabelle Segundo, 9, drowned after being swept by strong water current at the Lakik Creek in Sitio Lamuti of Barangay Lamlahak at around 4 p.m.
He said the victims were on their way home from Lamlahak Elementary School along with three other school children w
hen they decided to relieve themselves at a portion of the creek.
“They were not aware that the water current was quite strong so they decided to make a quick stop at the creek,” he said in a radio interview.
Bagong said the two victims were carried away by rushing waters while wading near a deep area while the three others were able to call for help and rescued by nearby residents.
He said Isay was found at a lower portion of the creek at 5:40 p.m. but was declared dead on arrival at a local hopsital.
Segundo’s body was recovered by the Lake Sebu search and rescue team at 6:20 a.m. Thursday at a quarry site in the adjoining Luil River, he said.
He said the local government will provide the necessary assistance to the families of the victims based on instructions from Mayor Antonio Fungan.
Bagong advised residents, especially children, to stay away from rivers and other tributaries in the area due to possible flooding as a result of the sporadic heavy rains.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office earlier warned residents in parts of the province against the possible occurrence of floods and landslides in the wake of the almost daily rains. (MindaNews)