2 Belgian teens swept away in river

BAGUIO CITY — Two Belgian teenagers are missing and feared dead after they were swept away by strong currents while wading in the Agno River in Itogon, Benguet last Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Kelly Smets and India Carreras, accompanied by two other Belgian teenagers, were wading in knee-deep water at about 5 p.m. when strong undercurrents swept them away, they said.

The four Belgian teenagers and three others were taking part in a community immersion program of the Belgian chapter of the Young Christian Workers in Dalupirip, one of the riverbank villages affected by the $1.2-billion San Roque multipurpose dam project.

The accident happened about an hour after the Belgian teens and other non-government workers from Manila arrived in the village.

Residents said they prevented the teenagers from taking a dip in the river and instead suggested a hot spring in Sitio Asin.

As of press time, the search for the two Belgians was still going on, civil defense officials said. — Artemio Dumlao, AFP