Health worker dies in Bulacan after getting electrocuted in flooded health center

MANILA — A health worker has died in Meycauayan, Bulacan after being electrocuted in a flooded health center, an officer from the province’s disaster risk reduction and management office (DRRMO) said on Wednesday.

Manuel Lukban, an officer at Bulacan’s DRRMO, identified the victim as a 49-year-old female.

“Bandang alas-8 dapat magche-check siya ng kanilang vaccines at mga equipment sa kanilang barangay health center,” Lukban told ABS-CBN News.

“Unfortunately, dahil sa baha, yun pala may kuryente na malapit sa tent na katabi ng kanilang health center, nang humawak siya sa bakal ay doon siya nakuryente na,” he added.

Barangay Bayugo officials said they would hold a council meeting to discuss what aid they would provide to the victim’s family.

Joedan Visto, the village chairman, extended his condolences to the family. 

“Nakalulungkot kasi siyempre kasamahan natin yan sa trabaho. Handa naman siyang tumulong, kaagapay natin sa barangay, tapos nangyari yun,” said Visto.

“May tumawag sa kanya na kailangan itaas ang gamit sa health center, yun lang ang nakarating na balita sa akin at ayon sa anak,” he added.

The provincial government of Bulacan said it would provide aid to the family of the victim.

Some 6,000 families or around 10,000 individuals remained at different evacuation centers in Bulacan on Wednesday as the province grappled with waist to chest-deep floods in some areas.

Lukban said flooded areas include the towns of Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, Malolos, Bulakan, Marilao, Bocaue, and Pulilan.

He said the flooding was caused by overflowing rivers, intense rains, and “back flooding.”

“Nagbabaha nang umaga dahil sa ating high tide at nagsu-subside ito pagdating ng hapon. Nagkataon na ang ating high tide ay kaninang umaga... Dahil dito, nag-cause ito ng pagtaas ng tubig. Sa ngayon naman ay unti-unti na itong bumababa,” he told ABS-CBN News.

“Ang common denominator ay Calumpit, damay na rin diyan ang Hagonoy, Paombong, Malolos, at Bulakan, yan ay talagang watch out natin yan dahil sa pag-ulan at sa tatlong factors,” he said. 

Despite the floods, Lukban some residents chose to stay in their homes to take care of their belongings. 

Floods as high as three feet persisted in Barangay Bayuga in Meycauayan.

Bgy. Bayugo Chairman Joey Uy said the water was higher on Tuesday and food and other relief aid to residents were transported by boats. 

“Hinihintay natin na bumaba ang Meycauayan River para patuloy na makapagbomba ng tubig palabas... Mga one day kaya naman yan kung bababa na ang ilog kasi minsan kapag pumantay siya, hihinto siya, babalik lang yung tubig satin,” Uy said.

To avoid wading through flood waters again, Fatima Garcia decided to buy groceries and other food products which would be good for three days.

She said she opted not to ride a boat or pedicab since these are expensive.

“Marumi eh. Dagdag sa budget yan, kaya pinili na lang namin maglakad kasi yung isasakay namin, ibibili na lang namin ng pagkainm sayang yung P100 na ipamamasahe namin,” she said.

“Sobrang hirap kasi hindi kami makapaghanapbuhay, wala kaming pagkukuhanan ng pagkakakitaan,” she said.

Vice Governor Alex Castro said floods in several areas, including the McArthur Highway, already subsided.

"Pero yung looban, mayroon pa rin tayong baha-baha na lugar. Sa Hagonoy, ganoon din, Calumpit lubog pa rin. Sa Marilao area, sa mga looban,” he told ABS-CBN News.

“Baha sila, lalo na sa bandang Calumpit, Hagonoy kahit walang ulan binabaha talaga eh lalo na apektado sila ng high tide. Sa Meycauayan, unti-unti magsa-subside na at sa Marilao ganyan ang mangyayari pero matagal mag-subside,” he said.

Castro said Governor Daniel Fernando’s meeting with the provincial council continues regarding the declaration of state of calamity in the province.

He also sought the help of the national government regarding the province’s flood-control projects.

“Sana yung mga napag-usapan noong nakaraang pagkakataon pa ay ma-implement na ang flood-control projects dito sa Bulacan na makakatulong,” he said.