Two boys zapped dead in Bantayan

Two boys were zapped dead after stepping on wet ground near an electric post beside the basketball court in barangay Atop-atop, Bantayan town Friday evening.

The fatalities were identified as John Mark Desabille, 17, and Banjo Pahuriray 15, both residents of the area.

According to the police, Desabille and Pahuriray were about to go home after watching a basketball game that was part of the barangay’s annual fiesta activities.

But before they could go far from the said court, the victim passed an electric post located near the barangay hall. Heavy rain for the past several days had produced a puddle of stagnant water at the base of the pole.

PO1 Bernie Batarilan of Bantayan Police Station said it was Desabille who was zapped first and fell, Pahuriray not knowing what had happened to his friend, came to help him and also stepped on the water.

People who saw what happened immediately went to a makeshift warehouse where the main switch of the post is located and turned it off.

Relatives and neighbors tried to bring them to Bantayan District Hospital but they both failed to make it there alive.

Batarilan said a witness reported that the post has a junction box with a missing cover. Police surmised that the ground wire from the box came in contact with the stagnant water and killed the victims.   

Residents also said they already informed the barangay captain about the hazard but he did nothing.  — Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP