Popular beach in Surigao del Sur faces temporary closure after drowning incident
BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews / 3 January) – Panaraga Beach in Barangay Gamut, Barobo, Surigao del Sur will be temporarily closed to the public starting January 5, following a drowning incident during the New Year celebration on January 1 that claimed the life of a tourist from Agusan del Sur.
The victim, a resident of Barangay Bayugan 3, Rosario, Agusan del Sur, was found approximately 100 meters from the shore at a depth of around 20 arm-spans, or roughly 34 meters, as reported by Neljoy Cortez, a Barobo resident who voluntarily retrieved the body.
In a Facebook video interview posted by user Cheng Cheng, Cortez recounted that when he heard people shouting that someone had drowned, he immediately went into the water, even though he is not a rescuer.
“When I got to him, I believed he was already lifeless. I just dragged him using his clothes,” Cortez said.
In a post on January 2 by the Local Government Unit Barobo Public Information Office on their Facebook page, Mayor Ronito L. Martizano convened an emergency meeting with key government agencies and local officials to address the tragedy and review safety protocols at the popular tourist destination.
According to the information office, officials gathered initial information about the incident and conducted a comprehensive review of existing national and local safety mandates for beach operations.
“The discussion focused on reviewing existing national and local mandates and determining appropriate measures to further ensure the safety and security of tourists visiting Barobo, Surigao del Sur,” the office stated.
It added that an ad hoc committee will be formed to conduct an official investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning incident. (Ivy Marie Mangadlao/MindaNews)
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