TRAGEDY IN ISABELA RIVER: Two rescued but Grade 2 Pupil didn’t make it

SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela — A 7-year-old Grade 2 pupil drowned after being swept away by strong currents while swimming with family members in the Cagayan River in Barangay Auitan, San Pablo, Isabela, on August 28, 2026.

The victim, identified as Zheille, was a resident of the municipality.

According to the San Pablo Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the family went to the river to swim at around 5:35 p.m. While in the water, they were reportedly swept away by strong currents.

Two family members were rescued, but Zheille remained missing, prompting an immediate search and retrieval operation.

At around 6:45 p.m., MDRRMO Officer Roseman B. Tumaliuan received a call from Barangay Auitan Punong Barangay Margie Ramos requesting assistance in locating the child.

The MDRRMO immediately coordinated with the San Pablo Municipal Police Station and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) San Pablo, while its Search and Rescue Team (SRT 210) was deployed to assist in the operation.

The search continued into the evening, with barangay officials, residents and volunteers joining the effort.

Search resumes next morning

The search resumed at around 5 a.m. on August 29, with responding teams conducting systematic searches along the Cagayan River and downstream areas.

The MDRRMO also coordinated with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Isabela and requested additional Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) support.

The PDRRMO immediately dispatched a WASAR team to augment the search.

However, while the PDRRMO-WASAR team was already en route to San Pablo, the missing child was located and retrieved at around 10:16 a.m. in Namabbalan, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Authorities warn public

The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers posed by strong river currents, particularly during the rainy season.

Authorities reminded parents and guardians to closely supervise children and avoid allowing them to swim in rivers, especially when water levels are high or currents are strong.

The public was also urged to avoid deep or unfamiliar waters, heed warnings from local authorities and never underestimate the strength of river currents.

In December 2024, three children aged 8, 9 and 10 also drowned in the Cagayan River in Barangay Annafunan, Tumauini, Isabela, according to a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) report.