FOUR people, including a couple and their son, died, while 12 others were rescued after the vehicle they were riding plunged into a river in a remote village in Zamboanga del Norte.
The victims were aboard a rescue vehicle owned by the town of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, that plunged into Dapitan River in Barangay El Paraiso, La Libertad, Zamboanga del Norte around 3 p.m. Monday, June 23, 2025.
"As it approaches the spillway, the right front wheel accidentally fell off, causing the vehicle to lose control and plunge into the river," the Dumingag Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) said in a statement.
The Dumingag MDRRMO said the vehicle was traveling from Calamba, Misamis Occidental, where the victims attended a fellowship at Adonao Elohim House of Prayer.
Personnel of La Liberatd MDRRMO along with policemen, firemen, and civilian volunteers rescued 14 individual, but unfortunately, two were pronounced dead on arrival at Pi an District Hospital.
Another two victims were recovered dead around 6 p.m. Monday.
The four fatalities included couple Nicanor Alfuro and Michelle, and their son, Nithan. The fourth fatality is Roxanne Calibugan.
Safely rescued were Bernafe Mandao Sabanal, 30; Marion Trigo Nanong, 41; Anabelle Alfuro, 46; Ivy Galay Manyacap, 18; Juli Mark Mandao Sabanal, 15; Robelyn Suco Alfuro, 29; Richard Mandao Galay, 36; Bernadette Mandao Laranio, 37; Uzil Jean Plando, 9; Kenneth Alfuro Bajao, 5; Sam Laranio Alfuro, 18; and Conchita Cagumbay Alfuro, 58.
The Municipal Government and MDRRMO of La Libertad provided food and support to survivors of the vehicular accident. (SunStar Zamboanga)