| Flood swifts boat with ten passengers |
| Written by Eldie S. Aguirre | ||||||
| Friday, 04 July 2008 | ||||||
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A boat with ten passengers rolled over after it was hit by raging floodwater along the river in Barangay Guihing, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur at about 8:30 p.m. on July 2.
Six passengers managed to swim towards the riverbank, while the four others just cling to the boat until it reaches the shorelines of Barangay Aplaya in Hagonoy – few kilometers from where the strong current swift the vessel.
Fortunately, the passengers were all safe despite bruises and contusions in some parts of their bodies caused by flood debris.
Police Inspector Jaime Senarillos said the victims composed mostly of Ladeco (Lapanday Agricultural Development Company) who were heading home from the day’s work from the other side of the river.
The ill-fated boat is one of the vessels used to ferry passengers crossing the river after contractors demolished the dilapidated Guihing Bridge to make way for the construction of a new bridge.
Guihing Bridge is linking Davao region and General Santos City.
Motorists are currently passing through a 7-kilometer detour road to reach either side of the river.
People living in the vicinity of the bridge expressed dismay over the failure of the contractor to establish a temporary foot bridge across the river while waiting for the completion of the new bridge.
Their ordeal has worsened after the local government ordered the stoppage of the operation of any water vessel crossing the river to avoid further incident in the future that could lead to loss of lives.
Residents from either side of the road has no other options but to take a ride following the 7-kilometer detour road when all they have to cross is less than 100 meters, if a footbridge has been built before the old bridge was destroyed. (With reports from Jay Galeos)
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