KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — A tragic accident claimed the life of a one-year-old boy after he fell into and was swept away by the strong current of an irrigation canal on Wednesday afternoon, May 6, in Barangay Namnama.
The victim was identified as Zhyper Kian De Pedro Diosanta, a resident of the area. He was declared dead on arrival at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital.
According to the child’s father, he had been briefly watching over his son before stepping inside their house for a short moment. In a matter of seconds, the child accidentally fell into a nearby irrigation canal, which was carrying a strong flow of water at the time.
Realizing what had happened, the father immediately sought help from relatives, and together they launched a frantic search along the stretch of the canal. The family combed through the waterway, hoping to find the child alive.
After nearly two hours of searching, the child was located at around 7:00 p.m. in a drop section of the irrigation canal in Purok Lower Manili, Barangay Manili, Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat, several kilometers from where he initially fell.
The child was immediately rushed to the hospital, but attending physicians declared him dead upon arrival.
Authorities have yet to release further details, but the incident underscores the dangers posed by open irrigation canals, especially in residential areas where children may be left unattended even for brief periods.
Local officials are expected to review safety measures and remind residents to exercise heightened vigilance to prevent similar tragedies.