MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said 63 cases of drowning and near-drowning in beaches and rivers nationwide have so far been reported and recorded this month.
Data sent by the PNP to INQUIRER.net on Thursday showed that the cases was recorded from March 1 to 25, but dod not indicate the number of fatalities and survivors.
The PNP added that 221 cases were reported since January this year – 82 in January and 76 in February.
Western Visayas had the most number of individuals involved in drowning or near-drowning incidents with 29, followed by Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) with 28, and Central Luzon at 23.
The PNP data also revealed that 80 incidents happened in rivers, 20 on beaches, while others were not specified where.
The PNP has yet to consolidate the number of drowning incidents for Holy Week but revealed that three teenagers have already died after drowning in the rivers of Cagayan and Davao del Norte.
Based on police reports, two 14-year-old boys died in the Cagayan River, while a 16-year-old also drowned in a river in Barangay New Malitbog in Panabo City on Wednesday.