CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela – Five people, including three minors, drowned when their wooden boat capsized along the Cagayan River in Barangay Naguilian Sur here on Friday, July 7.
Report reaching the Ilagan City Police Station identified the victims as Mervin Balubar, 36; Crisel Alvarez, 43; and three minors aged five, six, and nine.
The victims were all residents of Barangay Naguilian Sur.
Meanwhile, five others survived the incident.
They were identified as Ronaldo Ballesteros, Beverly Alvarez, 16; Mary Joy Alvarez, 6; Cristine May Balubar, 9; and Angeline Balubar, 30, also residents Barangay Naguilian Sur.
Investigators said that the victims went to the river to gather clams.
After gathering almost a sack of clams, they crossed the river but their boat capsized, causing the victims to fall into the river.
The strong current dragged them but five of them were not fortunate as they drowned. The other five victims were able to get to the shallow part of the river.
The Rescue 1124 of the City of Ilagan conducted search and rescue with concerned citizens and volunteers and were able to recover the bodies of the five victims.