Three young children drown during family gathering in Oriental Mindoro

The three children drowned in the waters off Sitio Proper, Barangay Navotas, in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, on Thursday afternoon, August 20, according to the Calapan City Police Station. Two of the victims were six years old, while the third was eight years old. The children had gone swimming while accompanied by their parents and relatives who had gathered to celebrate an advance birthday. Circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation by local authorities. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about water safety and supervision during recreational activities in coastal communities across the region. The Calapan City Police Station did not immediately provide additional details about the exact circumstances that led to the drowning or whether any warning systems were in place at the swimming area.