A Russian national died while two others were injured after their car fell off a cliff and plunged into a sea cove in Sitio Tayong, Barangay Guibuangan, Barili town, south of Cebu.

The incident happened at around 3 p.m. on January 8, 2024.

Barili Police identified the two injured Russian nationals as Lurii Sergeevich Samminskii and Arcehob Akssenov Georgii. Their female companion was identified as Irina Akcehova Aksenova; ages undetermined yet as of this posting. 

According to Police Major Janus Giangan, chief of the Barili Police Station, the Russian tourists were on their way to Cebu City from Moalboal town. But when they reached Sitio Tayong, their car went past the opposite lane and straight off a 200-foot cliff. 

The red sedan plunged into a bed of rocks on the seashore, and flipped over.

Residents who rushed to the scene saw that two male foreigners crawled out of the crumpled mess. However, their female comrade was still inside, motionless. The residents called for assistance from the municipal emergency rescue team. 

The Russian nationals were taken to the Barili District Hospital.

During the initial investigation, a bottle of beer was found in the bag of one of the passengers.

STATEMENT OF BARILI MAYOR

The Local Government Unit of Barili, in a statement, cited that they tried reaching out to the Embassy of Russia.

"The local government unit (LGU) of Barili is attempting to reach out to the Embassy of Russia following the accident involving Russian tourists in the town yesterday. As of now, they have not received any communication from the Embassy.

"The LGU has facilitated the transportation of the tourists to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) where they are currently being treated. The woman who died is kept at the Barili District Hospital’s morgue while awaiting representatives from the embassy.

"Communicating with LGU personnel, the police, and the tourists is challenging due to a language barrier, as they are not fluent in English.

"While the area where their car fell off the cliff is not considered accident-prone because this is the first time something like this has happened, Barili Mayor Pablo John ‘John-John’ Garcia IV will coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways to explore the possible installation of signs in the area.

"Mayor Garcia also urges motorists to exercise extra caution, especially during long drives, and to refrain from consuming intoxicating beverages while driving."""""

(By Decemay Padilla & Guamitos Logroño/DYSS Super Radyo GMA)