APALIT, Pampanga -- Two participants died while four others sustained minor injuries when their boat taking part in a river parade in celebration of the town fiesta and in commemoration of a patron locally known as Apung Iru hit the high tension wire of the National Grid Corporation Tuesday afternoon, June 28.
Based on an initial report from the Police Regional Office 3, one of the two fatalities who were electrocuted in the Pampanga River in Barangay Sulipan was identified as alias Nyote Ponsenes, a male, 40 years old and native of Manila.
The other fatality was another male and estimated to be around 30 years old.
Those who sustained minor injuries were identified as Maria Christina Javier-Torres, 58, a native of Matabungkay, Lian, Batangas and resident of Barangay Sucad; Mia Franz Simbulan, 11, and resident of Barangay Sucad; Dwayne Cortez, 11, also of Barangay Sucad, all of Apalit, Pampanga; and Elizabeth Figueras Javier, 41, also a native of Matabungkay, Lian, Batangas.
The incident of electrocution was initially reported at about 2:25 p.m. June 28 by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of LGU Apalit, Pampanga.
The said boat was among the participants in the river parade in celebration of the town fiesta. The victims were on board the said boat.
Disaster struck when a protruding metal portion of the said boat accidentally hit the high tension wire of NGC and exploded. The passengers got electrocuted.
The injured persons were rushed to the nearest hospital.