Two die, nine hospitalized due to "water contamination"

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Two residents of Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental died Monday, while nine others got sick, and the possible cause being looked into by authorities was water contamination in the area.

The fatalities—Carlito Martinez, 51, and Bambi Martinez, 40—and the other nine who were hospitalized at the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan were all residents of sitio Pagula-on in Barangay Carol-an.

Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco said he has ordered an investigation yesterday on the possible contamination of the water source in the area.

Kabankalan City Rural Health Unit chief Isagani Ayala went to the area immediately and said the water source in the sitio may have been contaminated because the area above their water reservoir is a grazing place for cattle.