Boy drowns in Maguindanao flood

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – A 5-year-old boy was drowned in rampaging floodwaters while a girl was rescued  two hours later in separate incidents in Maguindanao on Sunday.

Local officials identified the fatality as Norsalam Dingah, swept away by flood waters while trying to cross a ditch near their house in Northern Kabuntalan in the east of the province.

Dingah’s body was found floating in a flooded rice field in a nearby sitio after an extensive search.

Barangay officials rescued two hours later 3-year-old Monaiman Silongan, who slipped and plunged into a river in Taviran District in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, about 20 kilometers northwest of Northern Kabuntalan.

Silongan, who sustained bruises and contusions, was rushed to a hospital for medication.

Northern Kabuntalan and low-lying areas in Datu Odin Sinsuat are both flooded since early this week after rivers straddling through the two towns and nearby swamps that connect to the Liguasan Delta swelled and overflowed following five days of heavy downpours.