Girl, 6, drowns; sister missing

LUCENA CITY, Philippines – A six-year-old girl was found floating, while her sister was reported missing in a river in this city on Saturday night.

Witnesses said Jasmine Almariego was fished out of the Iyam River in Barangay 1 at around 10:45 p.m., while her sister Joanna, 5, was yet to be found.

Jasmine was declared dead on arrival at the Mt. Carmel Hospital.

The sisters were last seen at around 3:30 p.m., playing at a basketball court near the river.

Their mother Josie told police the children failed to return home that afternoon.