River swallows quarry truck, 4 killed

PAGADIAN CITY – Police said 4 sand quarry workers were killed after the truck they were riding was swept by a strong river current in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte.

SPO2 Reczim Daquipil, one of those who were dispatched to search for the workers, said the incident occurred on Monday afternoon in Dapitan River. He said four of the victims had been recovered in Dapitan City following a massive search.

Two other victims - truck driver Federico Calunsag and Ruth Pactorayan - remain missing, althught there was an unconfirmed report that Calunsag’s body had been found, he said.

Daquipil identified those they retrieved as Lilia Ellobido, Joana Tuse; truck helper Ihid Pioco and Jun Obordo. He said some of them were his neighbors.

“It was really tragic. The truck was returning to the shore when its engine stalled and a sudden surge of water swept it away. All those in the truck were also swallowed by the river,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner by phone from La Libertad.

The 15-kilometer stretch of the river on the side of the town is dotted by quarries mostly by villagers, but it was unknown whether municipal officials have approved this or not, although it is a livelihood for many people in the area. (Mindanao Examiner)

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