SANTA MAGDALENA, Sorsogon — Three young girls drowned while swimming in a river in Bulan town in Sorsogon province, Saturday, November 2.
In a phone interview, the Bulan police confirmed that a nine-year-old girl and her two other friends, both 8, died in a river in Barangay (village) Abad Santos at around 10 a.m.
The Bulan police said local residents attempted to rescue the three but they were already dead when they were retrieved from the river.
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Responders brought the victims to a hospital, but because it was 10 kilometers away from the site, they were eventually declared dead on arrival.
In a separate interview with reporters, Lieutenant Colonel Virgil Bibat said the three were swept by strong currents into a deeper portion of the river, causing them to drown.
The Bulan police said they have already coordinated with the village officials of Aban Santos, advising them to ban swimming in the river to prevent similar incidents from happening.
It was the first drowning incident that was recorded in the area, the police added.