BACOLOD CITY - A female teenager was found dead in a river at Purok Tumpok, Barangay Zone 15, Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Thursday morning, a day after she was reported missing, along with her two other minor-companions at Purok Abkasa, Barangay Mandalagan here last Wednesday.
Geoffrey Gutierrez, head of Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, identified the fatality as Janet Rodriguez, 16, of Barangay Mandalagan.
Guttierez said that the remains of Rodriguez were retrieved around 6 a.m. She suffered head injuries when she probably hit some rocks in the river, he added.
Guttierez said six friends went swimming at the river on Wednesday afternoon when heavy rains occurred.
Three of them were able to get to shore, but three others went missing after they were carried by the strong current of the water.
He said that they initiated a separate search and retrieval (SAR) operation since the river at Mandalagan village is connected with the river in Talisay City.
As of 2 p.m., the two others were still missing, he said, adding that SAR operation was still ongoing.