1 dead, 45 hurt in fluvial parade
MASANTOL, Pampanga – A fluvial parade for the Virgen la Purissima Concepcion on the
The lone fatality, retrieved yesterday by rescuers, was identified as Jessie Ambrosio, 31, a resident of Barangay Alauli here where a state of calamity has been declared following the accident.
Julius Valdez, 12, of
Vice Mayor Bajun Lacap said the two were among some 100 people, including members of a local band, who were on board a barge that bore the image of the Blessed Virgin during the traditional post-New Year’s Day fluvial parade on the
“The impact of the electrocution threw them off the barge into the river,” Lacap said.
“Most of the victims who sustained injuries were allowed to go home Sunday night after they were given first aid, but nine of them remain in hospital in Malolos, Bulacan, Orani, Bataan, and nearby Macabebe,” Liberty Sunga, Masantol Social Welfare officer, said.
Four of the victims are confined at the
Among the injured were Justin Caparas, 7; Carlo Caparas, 5; Reah Cristel Navarro, 9; Joshua Torres, 8; Maris Carillo, 13; Louie Jay Caspe, 10; Gerald Caspe, 8; Jonalyn Caspe, 12; Bunny Tolentino, 7; Larry Sunga, 19; and Roberto Castro.
Lacap, citing reports from the hospitals, said three of the victims were in serious condition.
He said the accident happened when a steel arc placed over the image of the Blessed Virgin on the barge, which was actually a wide platform set up on three huge fishing boats tied to each other, hit an electric wire that ran some 12 meters above the surface of the Pampanga River.
The wire, maintained by the Pampanga Electric Cooperative III (Pelco III), provides electricity to the islands of Barangays Puti and Balibago.
Lacap quoted Pelco III officials as admitting that the electric wire was charged with 37,800 kilowatts of power.
Witness Bong Garcia, 60, of Sitio Bako, said parade participants in small boats fished out the victims.
He said hundreds of witnesses saw people on the crowded barge being electrocuted and thrown into the river by the impact of the electric current.
“A member of the band who was playing on his trombone seemed to have been kicked off the boat,” he said.
“Nagtalunan kami sa ilog ng pumutok ang kawad ng kuryente (We jumped into the river when the electric wires exploded),” said victim Amelia Torres.
The others survived only because the arc detached from the electric wire when the barge sped off, witnesses said.
Lacap, who presided over the session of the municipal board early yesterday, said a state of calamity was immediately declared to help the victims.
“Gov. (Eddie) Panlilio called to ask what assistance we need, and I told him we need help for the families of those who are now in the hospital,” Lacap said.
He added that organizers of the event seemed to have miscalculated the height of the arc in relation to the tide and the wire. “I suppose they failed to consider that a high tide was to occur at the time of the fluvial parade,” he said.
“This should also alert Pelco III into upgrading its facilities in coastal barangays despite its claim of losses in the areas. Pelco III officials have been taking us for granted,” said Lacap, who resides in one of the island barangays that gets isolated by strong currents of the
Alauli folk have traditionally observed the fluvial parade, dubbed as “labas larawan” in honor of the Immaculate Concepcion, on the first Sunday after New Year’s Day.
“It’s a tradition that is observed even more lavishly than their actual fiesta in April. They bring out the picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary which they honor in a procession on the
The accident happened at the start, even before the parade could pass through three other barangays by the river, prompting organizers to continue with the procession on land, this time, to pray for the injured. – Dino Balabo, Ric Sapnu
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