NEWSBRIEFS
PAGADIAN CITY
Dirty water kills 7
Contaminated water drawn from a river caused a diarrhea outbreak in hinterland villages in Salvador town in Lanao del Norte, which has so far
killed seven people, including four infants.
At least 18 other people were admitted to hospitals and 25 others were outpatients, according to reports reaching the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Friday.
The victims were all residents of Barangay (village) Calimodan, where the diarrhea cases were mostly concentrated. Other cases were reported in Barangays Pansur, Buntong, Pawak and Mindalano.
The Center for Health Development in Northern Mindanao said the seven deaths were caused by severe dehydration. The dead were identified as Arsa Ampaso Tomanto, 48; Rocon Ayonan, 60; Tomie Angco, 50; Baliling Pendatun, 1; Paisah Ampaso, 1; Norhasim Acod, 11 months; and Nasib Ampaso, 7 months.—Ryan D. Rosauro, Inquirer Mindanao
NAGA CITY
Lightning kills 1
One person was killed while two others were injured when lightning struck and hit farmers harvesting rice on Friday in Barangay (village) San Francisco, Magarao, Camarines Sur, police said on Saturday.
Police Officer 2 Medel Ramos, desk officer of the Magarao Municipal police station, identified the fatality as Sebastian B. Luna, 25, of Barangay Bel of Magarao, about 5 kilometers from Naga City.
Ramos said Luna, who suffered third-degree burns, was declared dead on arrival by doctors of Bicol Medical Center in this city.—Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon
NUEVA VIZCAYA
3 killed by truck
Three people, two of them children, died while four others were hurt when a truck hit two vehicles and a house in Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya, on Friday, police said. Reports reaching the Cagayan Valley police office here said Tricia Culagon and Princess Carl de Guzman, both 6, and Dominador Marso, 60, died in the accident along the national highway in Barangay (village) Nagsabaran.
Police said the truck driver, Danilo Manzano, lost control of the vehicle when it reached a curve. The truck, which was transporting sacks of corn, hit a boulder along the road then hit Marso’s motorcycle and a tricycle carrying Culagon and De Guzman before it slammed into a house.—Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon
SAGAY CITY
More electricity
Negros Occidental officials said two government-funded hydro power plants would soon rise in Negros Occidental.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the lack of locally produced power had put Negros Occidental at the mercy of high-priced supply from other provinces.
The entry of coal power plants into the provinces was being targeted by protesters because of this, he said.—Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas
