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2 teenage girls drown in pond in Cebu

Philippines | Luzon

2 teenage girls drown in pond in Cebu

By Calvin Cordova

CEBU CITY – Two 12-year-old Grade 6 students drowned while swimming in a pond in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday afternoon, April 20.

ONLOOKERS gather around the pond where two young girls drowned while swimming on Thursday afternoon, April 20, in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City. (Photo from Lapu-Lapu DRRMO chief Nagiel Bañacia)
Police identified the fatalities as Nijel Rhaine Moriles and Jamaica Jane Sarmiento, students of the Masulog Elementary School. The victims and a classmate, Desirhey Lapuja Esperesa, had just taken their periodical tests when they decided to take a dip in the two-meter deep pond. According to investigation, they were swimming when the feet of the two victims hot entangled with a fishnet underneath. While the two victims struggled to resurface, Esperesa was able to climb out of the pond and sought help. Responders from Basak Rescue and Lapu-Lapu City Rescue Water Team found the two students submerged in the pond. “I am saddened with what happened to the students,” said Lapu-Lapu Mayor Junard Chan. Chan said personnel from the City Social Welfare and Development Office had been asked to coordinate with the victims’ families for necessary assistance. He assured that the city will help shoulder the funeral expenses of the victims.

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students Lapu-Lapu City Cebu province Drowning

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