A 57-year-old woman drowned while doing laundry at a riverbank in Brgy. Damsite, Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday afternoon, November 19.
The victim, identified as “Hermie”, was washing clothes at the river when she was later noticed missing by her older brother, the police said.
Residents later informed him that she had been swept away by the current and her body was recovered downstream in Purok Villarosa.
The Murcia police said they were informed of the incident at around 4:30 p.m. by personnel of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, who rushed the victim to the Murcia Health Center.
The victim was brought to the health center but was declared dead by the attending physician.
Her brother said she may have accidentally slipped before being carried away by strong currents.
Police said no foul play is suspected.
The temporary death certificate issued by the Murcia Health Center listed the cause of death as acute respiratory failure and asphyxia due to drowning.*