Two cousins drown on New Year’s Day in NegOr

A mother mourns the death of one of the two victims who drowned in a beach resort at Barangay Poblacion, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office)

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Tragedy struck a family when two cousins – a boy and a girl – died after they drowned in a beach resort while celebrating New Year’s Day at Barangay Poblacion, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental last Wednesday.

Police withheld the names of the fatalities aged 16 and 21.

The victims went swimming with their two other female cousins aged 18, around 1:15 p.m. when they drowned near the shoreline.

All four victims were brought to a hospital, where two of them were declared dead while two others survived.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Edelberto Euroba III, public information officer of

Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), said the area is known to have a breakwater system, an artificial offshore structure protecting a harbour, anchorage, or marina basin from water waves to prevent beach erosion.