Father Dead, Son Missing After Zambales River Sweeps Away Cart

A 35-year-old father was found dead on Wednesday, a day after he and his seven-year-old son went missing when the carabao-drawn cart he was steering was swept away by strong river currents in Botolan town, Zambales, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. Simeon Candule, a resident of Barangay Palis in Botolan, was traveling in the cart when it was caught by the surging river waters. Candule was found dead on Wednesday, while search operations for his son are ongoing. Heavy rains have recently caused rivers to swell in the region, impacting residents' lives. In the Philippines, incidents of flash floods and drownings are common, particularly during the rainy season (typically June to November), often exacerbated by weather conditions and infrastructure vulnerabilities. The PCG is continuing its search for the missing boy and investigating the full circumstances of the accident.