Four people, all relatives, died after they were electrocuted and drowned in a well in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

According to their families, alias “Jason,” 27, and his father-in-law tried to retrieve a hammer and chisel from the well, which is around 28 feet deep.

However, when Jason was about to descend using a rope, he was reportedly electrocuted and fell. His father-in-law and two other relatives attempted to rescue him but they were also electrocuted and fell.

All of them drowned.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the submersible pump installed in the well may have been grounded, which caused the electrocution.

“Ang characteristic niyan, hindi agad-agad yan naga-ground pero may leaking yan, may na-hit na isang matigas na bagay. Possible reason ng ground, nagkaroon ng fault, so posibleng magkaroon ng aksidente pag mahawakan. Pwedeng mag-cause ng electrocution sa human,” BFP Municipal Fire Marshall, Fire Inspector Herman Ting, said.

A relative said the four may not have thought to turning off the main power switch connected to the submersible pump.

“Wala siya kahuna-huna nga i-off ang plangka, miambak siya kay iyang luwason ang iyang masamong. Dako gani og lagubo. Then, pagkamata sa iyang anak, bale akong pag-umangkon nga iyang papa, miambak sa atabay, naalimungawan. Miapas sa iyang papa, miambak pud siya,” a relative said.

The families of the four eventually turned off the main power switch.

Rescue teams retrieved the four and brought them to the hospital but they were declared dead on arrival.

BFP reminded the public not to panic and to contact the authorities immediately if a similar incident occurs.

“Dapat hindi talaga mag-panic at tumawag ng tulong doon sa mga authority katulad ng Bureau of Fire Protection, sa PNP, sa special rescue force namin for the rescue. Kasi kung nangyari sana yon, paalala lang natin to, maiwasan natin ang casualty,” Ting said.