Five individuals died after getting struck by a lightning at the mountain top of Camp Madiger in Brgy. Binaton, Digos City, Davao del Sur, on Sunday afternoon.
Based on the police's initial report, four teenagers and two couples were having a picnic separately at the Camp when heavy rain poured with a thunderstorm and lightning.
The following individuals reportedly died on the spot:
- John Gabriel Hersania, 15 years old
- Geramie Cartagena, 18 years old
- Jonmel Galicia, 19 years old
- Valerie Asutilla, 23 years old
While the other victim namely Glendelle Joy Villucino, 17 years old, passed away while getting treated in a hospital.
Asutilla's boyfriend Clarence Cate Chatto, 21 years old, was the only person who survived the incident.
Interviewed during DZRH's Damdaming Bayan on Monday, Chatto recalled that heavy rain poured at about 4 pm, prompting him and his girlfriend Asutilla to leave the cottage and go down from the mountain top.
Holding a big umbrella, he said they visited a cottage filled with minors and asked them to evacuate the place.
"Medyo madilim na rin 'yun tas mga minor de edad. Kami ng girlfriend ko, mga legal age na rin kami. Doon ako nag-alala sa mga bata kasi mga minor de edad at baka hindi sila makababa," Chatto said.
He said two minors used a cellular phone for flashlight purposes then a lightning struck at the pine tree, hitting directly his girlfriend while he was overthrown and lost consicousness.
"Kumidlat ng isang beses at nung pangalawang kidlat, doon na tumama sa amin," Chatto said.
Authorities are now extending assistance for the victims' families.
