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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Grade 2 pupil dies after family is swept away by strong current at Cagayan River

Grade 2 pupil dies after family is swept away by strong current at Cagayan River

Published Aug 31, 2026 02:51 pm
SAN PABLO, Isabela – A seven-year-old Grade 2 pupil drowned after she and two family members were swept away by a strong current while bathing in the Cagayan River here on Friday, August 28, a belated report from authorities said.
The victim was identified only as Zheille, a resident of this town.
Police said the family was in the river in Barangay Auitan at around 5:35 p.m. when they were reportedly swept away by the strong current.
Two of the child’s relatives were rescued, but Zheille disappeared in the rushing water.
The San Pablo Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) received a request for assistance at around 6:45 p.m. from Barangay Auitan Chairperson Margie Ramos.
MDRRMO Officer Roseman B. Tumaliuan immediately coordinated with the San Pablo Municipal Police Station and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), while Search and Rescue Team 210 was deployed.
Barangay officials, residents, and volunteers joined rescuers in the search, which continued through the night.
The operation resumed at around 5 a.m. on August 29, with rescuers scouring the Cagayan River and downstream areas.
The San Pablo MDRRMO also coordinated with the Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and neighboring local government units along the river. A Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) team was dispatched to reinforce the operation.
However, before the WASAR team could reach San Pablo, the child’s body was found and recovered at around 10:16 a.m. in Barangay Namabbalan, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan — far downstream from where she was last seen.
Authorities said the tragedy again underscored the deadly danger posed by strong river currents, particularly during the rainy season.
They urged parents and guardians to closely watch children and avoid swimming or entering rivers when water levels are high and currents are strong.
The public was also advised to stay away from deep or unfamiliar waters, heed warnings from local authorities, and never underestimate the power of river currents.
In December 2024, three children aged eight, nine, and 10 also drowned in the Cagayan River in Barangay Annafunan, Tumauini, Isabela, according to a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) report. 

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