11-year-old rescued, 2 others retrieved in Tarlac drowning incidents

An 11-year-old boy was rescued while two other minors were retrieved in separate drowning incidents in Barangay San Roque, La Paz, Tarlac, on 21 and 22 August.

According to the La Paz Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), responders were initially dispatched to Barangay San Roque on 21 August following reports involving two boys, aged 11 and 14.

The MDRRMO, in coordination with the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection, immediately launched search and rescue operations.

The 11-year-old boy was rescued alive, while the 14-year-old was later located and retrieved.

At around 4 p.m. the same day, authorities received another report of a drowning in a different area of Barangay San Roque.

Responders launched another search, but strong currents forced authorities to suspend operations at around 6 p.m. due to safety concerns.

The search resumed at 7:10 a.m. on 22 August with assistance from the Tarlac Provincial DRRMO, Municipal Engineering Office, Philippine Air Force, BFP Special Rescue Unit, Philippine Army and local fishermen.

The victim was located and retrieved at around 4:25 p.m.

The MDRRMO credited inter-agency coordination and assistance from local volunteers for the completion of the operations.