A girl and a boy, both seven years old, drowned in separate incidents while swimming in rivers in Ilocos Norte and Pampanga.

The seven-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a stream in Barangay Cangrunaan, Batac City, Ilocos Norte on August 24, 2024.

The boy was with his sibling when the incident happened.

According to the boy's uncle, Darwin Binala, the children reportedly sneaked out to swim in the stream.

"Tumakas sila papuntang sapa kasi ‘yun mahirap kasi mapakinggan lalo kapag may mga gumagamit roon ng water pump. Nagpuputol ako ng mais sa malapit roon pero di ko na marinig," Binala said.

The stream where the boy's body was found is reportedly over seven feet deep.

The boy's mother is grieving, as her husband is also currently in the hospital recovering from an illness.

A resident nearby, Donald Vercida, tried to save the boy.

"Sinabi nila na may nalunod kaya agad akong tumakbo at tumalon na lang ako kasi gusto kong maisalba ang buhay," Vercida said.

"Matagal kong hinanap sa loob ng tubig nang mahawakan ko dibdib niya. Itinaas ko pero namumuti na siya," he added.

In a separate incident on the same day, a girl drowned while swimming at the Abacan River in Angeles City, Pampanga.

A five-year-old child survived.

Authorities urged residents living near rivers to avoid swimming in these areas.

"Bilang concerned citizen[s] magmalasakitan po tayo, kung kaya po nating pigilan yung mga bata, pahanguhin natin sa tubig, huwag po natin paliguin doon. Unang-una po hindi po malinis ang tubig doon," PMaj Alfred Andal, Commander of Angeles City Police Station-3, said.

The local government of Angeles City has already extended assistance to the grieving family.