An 18-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl, both residents of Barangay San Josef Norte, drowned at the Pampanga River in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

The victims were reportedly swept away by strong currents while swimming at the river.

The girlfriend of the man survived the incident. 

"Napag-alaman na itong mga kabataan ay nagkayayaan na maligo sa ilog nung matapos silang maligo at nang sila’y papaalis na [ay] aksidente na tumalon itong bata... kung kaya nahatak niya ito [na isang biktima] pababa, at nung sila’y nasa ilalim na ng tubig ay hindi na sila nakalutang," PMAJ. Vinia Rocafort, Public Information Officer of the Cabanatuan City Police Station, said.

It took nearly an hour to recover the victims' bodies. 

"Mga more or less isang oras, dahil dun lang din sila natagpuan kung saan sila lumubog," Rocafort said.

Police said there were no indications of foul play.

Residents said the water level in the river had risen due to continuous rainfall brought by Typhoon Aghon. 

The river also deepened due to excavation, with the soil being used to construct a dike nearby. 

"Dati po mababaw eh. Nun pong hinuhukay po ng mga backhoe dito po itinatambak, eh. Dapat po magkaroon ng proteksiyon dito para po eh hindi na maulit," Joy Pascua, a resident, said.

This is not the first drowning incident in the area that residents have called for a ban on swimming to prevent similar incidents.