Woman dies in Apayao River banca accident

KABUGAO, Apayao – A woman drowned and another suffered injuries when the motorized banca they were riding capsized along Apayao River amid heavy rains brought by recent weather disturbances in Northern Luzon. A report by the Kabugao Municipal Police Station said that at about 7:15 a.m. last Tuesday, a boatload of passengers bound for barangay (village) Dibagat capsized as they were crossing a rocky portion of the river at barangay Lucab. Police said the boat is owned by Rizon Tandi, who was also the driver of the boat at the time of the accident. Police identified the lone fatality as Almida Alupang Canarang, a 55-year-old housewife from Dibagat. Rescuers found her body downstream in barangay Nagbabalayan. The injured passenger was identified as Grace Siplac, a 30-year-old teacher and a resident of Ugac Norte in Tuguegarao, Cagayan province. The Apayao River is used as a major transportation access route from upland Calanasan and Kabugao municipalities of Apayao downstream to Abulug River in Cagayan. Kabugao is the capital of Apayao. - GMANews.TV