Girl drowns in Ilocos Norte dam

An 11-year-old girl drowned in a dam in Batac City in Ilocos Norte on Saturday.

GMA News stringer Dennis Gabriel Alipio on Sunday identified the victim as Rica Marzan, Grade VI student, and a resident of Barangay Nagtrigoan of Pinili town.

An initial investigation showed that Marzan, together with some classmates, went to a dam for a picnic.

Later, while bathing in the dam, Marzan's classmates saw her drowning in a deep portion. Her classmates failed to save her as no grownup was around to help them. 

Rescuers had a hard time retrieving the body of the victim as the water in the dam was deep.

A health officer of Batac City confirmed that the victim died from drowning.

Local authorities said taking a dip in the said dam has been prohibited as drowning incidents have been recorded in the dam area. —LBG, GMA News