Live wire kills 7 in septic tank

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Seven people died and another sustained injuries when they were electrocuted while digging a septic tank in Sorsogon City on Monday, authorities said.

Quoting a report from the Sorsogon police, Senior Superintendent Eliciar Bron, spokesman of the Bicol police, identified the victims as Benito Jintalan, 65, the house owner; brothers Arnel and Gilbert Janaban; Leopoldo Jordan, 65; Neptali Jordan, 22; Jose Macapagal, 65; and Ronal Macapagal, 25. Injured was Eric Janaban.

Investigation showed that Jintalan tried to put an extension wire with a bulb to light the working area, but he suddenly fell into the septic tank, carrying the live wire.

The rest of the victims came to the rescue of Jintalan and two others in the septic tank, but they were all electrocuted, too.

It took the victims’ neighbors nearly two hours to get the bodies, as they avoided being electrocuted.

Janaban was rushed to the nearby Sorsogon Doctors’ Hospital for minor burns. He, however, was still in a state of shock until yesterday. – With Celso Amo, Cet Dematera (The Philippine Star)