BACOLOD CITY – A New Year’s Day family outing went tragic when two cousins drowned in a beach resort at Barangay Poblacion, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental on Thursday.
Police withheld the names of the 16-year-old boy and his 21-year-old female cousin who did not survive. Their two other female cousins aged 18 were rescued and brought to a hospital.
A report from the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo) said the victims went swimming around 1:15 p.m. when they drowned near the shoreline.
PCMS Edelberto Euroba III, public information officer of Norppo, said the area is known to have a breakwater system, an artificial offshore structure protecting a harbor, anchorage, or marina basin from water waves to prevent beach erosion.
All four victims were brought to a hospital, where two of them were declared dead. (Glazyl Masculino)
