TACLOBAN CITY– About five children were involved in separate drowning incidents in Leyte on Sunday, January 5, 2025, leaving two dead and three others hospitalized.
Three minors from Burauen, Leyte, narrowly escaped death after being caught by strong waves while swimming at a beach in Barangay Rizal, Dulag, Leyte, at around 3:36 pm, a report from the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), based in Palo, Leyte, said.
The victims, identified as alias “Jeff”, 12, a Grade 6 pupil; alias “Jen”, 10, a Grade 4 pupil; and alias “Love”, 12, a Grade 6 pupil, were enjoying a swim when they were overwhelmed by continuous strong waves.
Fortunately, other individuals at the beach managed to rescue the children.
Registered nurses Ara Petilla and Angelica Bea Torreno, along with on-duty personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) stationed in Brgy.Rizal, immediately administered first aid.
Jeff and Jen were rushed to Burauen District Hospital for further medical attention, while Victim Love was taken to the Schistosomiasis Hospital in Palo, Leyte.
All three minors are in stable condition, according to the attending medical staff.
In a more tragic incident in Barangay Banayon, Dagami, Leyte, two young girls were found dead in a drainage canal of the National Irrigation System late in the evening, also on Sunday.
The victims were identified as alias “Joy”, 10, and alias “Jade”, 9, both students and residents of Dagami.
According to the police, the girls left their homes at around 6:00 pm, telling their families that they were going to buy candy. By 8:00 pm, Joy’s mother noticed her daughter hadn’t returned and, along with her husband, began searching for the girls.
At around 10:10 pm, Joy’s father made the horrifying discovery of his daughter’s lifeless body floating in the drainage. Moments later, Jade’s father found his daughter’s body a few meters away.
The girls were immediately brought home, and at 11:17 pm, they were declared dead on arrival by their attending physician at the Dagami rural health unit.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA /ROBERT DEJON)
