Tragedy in Bukidnon: three sisters drown as motorcycle plunges into flooded spillway

• Three minor sisters, aged six, eight, and 12, tragically drowned when the motorcycle they were riding with their mother and stepfather plunged into a flooded spillway in Libona, Bukidnon

• Witnesses reported that the motorcycle, driven by the stepfather, experienced an apparent brake failure and, in a moment of panic, was put into neutral, causing it to enter the rapidly moving floodwaters

• While the adult passengers managed to swim to safety, the three young girls were carried off by the strong current, with their bodies recovered over two days of search operations

• The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of flooded roadways during the rainy season, prompting authorities to urge caution and highlighting the need for improved infrastructure and warnings in flood-prone areas

A tragic accident in Libona, Bukidnon, claimed the lives of three young sisters after the motorcycle they were riding plunged into a flooded spillway on the Bubunawan River in Barangay Capihan.

According to a video report by GMA Regional TV News, the incident occurred amidst heavy rainfall, highlights the perilous conditions of certain roadways, particularly during the wet season.

The victims, aged six, eight, and 12, were traveling with their mother and stepfather when their motorcycle veered into the swollen spillway.

While the mother and the stepfather, who was operating the motorcycle, managed to survive the harrowing ordeal, the three children were tragically swept away by the powerful current.

According to initial accounts from witnesses, the motorcycle experienced an apparent brake failure as it approached the flooded crossing.

Rey Almers Sevillano, a witness to the incident, recounted that the driver, the children's stepfather, attempted to control the vehicle by downshifting into second gear to slow down.

However, the motorcycle was still moving rapidly. In a moment of panic, while attempting to shift back to first gear, the driver reportedly put the vehicle into neutral.

This loss of control prevented them from stopping before entering the deep, swift-moving water.

The force of the floodwaters quickly overwhelmed the motorcycle and its occupants. The mother and stepfather were able to swim to safety, but the three young girls were immediately carried off by the current.

Rescuers mounted an immediate search operation. The body of the 12-year-old sister was recovered first.

She was rushed to a hospital, but despite resuscitation efforts, she was declared dead upon arrival. The bodies of her two younger sisters, aged six and eight, were tragically found the following day, further underscoring the severity of the incident and the danger posed by the flooded spillway.

Sevillano further stated that the driver's intention was to stop the motorcycle once it entered the water, believing it would be safer than colliding with the nearby fences.

They reportedly did not anticipate the extent of the flooding at the spillway.

This fatal accident serves as a stark reminder of the extreme hazards associated with crossing flooded roads and spillways, particularly on motorcycles which offer minimal protection against strong currents.

Local authorities have consistently issued advisories to residents, urging them to exercise heightened caution during the rainy season and to avoid traversing flooded areas if possible.

The tragic loss of the three young lives has prompted renewed calls for improved infrastructure and clearer warnings in flood-prone areas, especially those frequently used by local communities.

The incident underscores the broader challenges faced by communities in regions prone to heavy rainfall, where essential but often rudimentary infrastructure like spillways can become death traps when water levels rise unexpectedly.

Authorities continue to investigate the specifics of the accident to prevent future occurrences, while the community grapples with the profound grief caused by this devastating loss.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, government authorities are warning about a business scheme referred to ask “task scamming.” The said scheme lures individuals with promises of easy income for simple online tasks, beginning with unsolicited messages from fake employers, and later defrauding victims through bogus investment opportunities. Scammers build trust by initially delivering small payments for minor tasks, like "liking" products, before escalating to demands for larger investments that are never returned. Authorities like PAOCC and CICC explain that these scams use methods such as "MC catchers" or phishing websites to acquire contact details for mass messaging, and that the fraudsters often operate in organized groups. Government agencies and industry experts caution the public that no legitimate employer will ask for money in exchange for a job or send unsolicited offers through messaging apps without a prior application.

Still in other news, a woman was caught on CCTV in an alleged commission fraudulent act when she tried to ask for the change from a vendor. Based on the CCTV footage, the woman alighted from a bus and started to get some "isaw." Thereafter, she "confronted" the vendor and asked for the change saying that the latter still owes her a P50 change. Since she was already acting hysterically, the vendor just gave her the P50, and she immediately walked away.

Source: KAMI.com.gh