A rescue vehicle carrying 16 passengers and a driver lost control and plunged into the Dapitan River while crossing a flooded spillway in Barangay El Paraiso, La Libertad, Zamboanga del Norte, on Monday, June 23.
The incident claimed the lives of four individuals, including a couple and their son, while twelve others were rescued and immediately brought to nearby hospitals for treatment.
According to the Dumingag Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the vehicle was en route to Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, after attending a gathering in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.
“As it approached the spillway, the right front wheel accidentally fell off, causing the vehicle to lose control and plunge into the river,” Dumingag Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) wrote in a Facebook post.
The Dumingag MDRRMO said that two victims were declared dead on arrival at Piñan District Hospital, while the other two were recovered lifeless by rescuers during the search and retrieval operations.
Meanwhile, the twelve other passengers were safe and were rescued by various rescue teams.
Local authorities have issued warnings to motorists to exercise heightened caution when driving in hazardous weather conditions, especially during the rainy season when crossing spillways and bridges.
They also reiterated the importance of regularly inspecting vehicles to ensure roadworthiness, particularly for government and emergency service units.
“LGU La Libertad and MDRRMO provide food and support to survivors of the vehicular incident,” said Dumingag MDRRMO.
“Assistance was also given by the LGU Dumingag to the bereaved family, as well as to the survivors for their safe return,” they added.
