Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Five people on a charity mission drowned and another went missing after they were swept away by a sudden current while crossing a creek in the northern Philippines, officials said Monday.
Provincial officer Charmaine Mallari said the victims were among 54 people who were traveling Sunday to a remote village in Tarlac province to donate food to poor tribesmen.
The hikers were crossing the creek when the current suddenly grew rough and swept away nearly a dozen of them, Mallari said. She said five drowned and one remained missing, while the survivors sustained minor injuries.
Another provincial officer, Marvin Guiang, said there was no rain in Tarlac but a downpour in nearby regions may have swelled the creek while the volunteers were crossing it.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
