15 BOY SCOUTS ELECTROCUTED, 3 DIED AT ZAMBOANGA CITY JAMBOREE

Three participants at the boy scout jamborette in Zamboanga City died after they were electrocuted at their camp on Thursday morning (Photo courtesy of RMN Zamboanga)

Three boy scouts died while 12 others were injured after they were electrocuted for transferring a tent during the 2024 Council Scout Jamboree at the Climaco Freedom Park in Pasonanca, Zamboanga City on Thursday.

Initial investigation revealed that about 15 students were tasked to transfer a tent from the roadside to the camping area at the Freedom Park in Barangay Pasonanca. However, the pointed tip of the tent accidentally touched a dangling live wire that caused the boy scouts to be thrown off.

Emergency responders rushed to the area, 12 injured boy scouts sustained electrical burns and are reportedly in safe condition. Three of the four senior scouters were declared dead upon arrival at the Zamboanga City Medical Center.

One of the three fatalities were from the Recodo National High School, while the two others were 12th graders at Zamboanga City High School.

Around 2,800 boy scouts from various schools in the city joined the jamborette which started on Thursday and was supposed to last until December 15. The jamboree had been envisioned to promote camaraderie, leadership, and skill-building – a gathering where scouts from across Zamboanga could forge bonds. 

According to the police investigation, the overall in charge of the Boy Scouts Jamboree, instructed the students to transfer the tent from the road going to the camp. More or less 15 students responded and helped.

“Unluckily, the pointed tip of the tent accidentally hit the live wire of Zamcelco (Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative),” Lawyer Jose Rizalino Ortega Jr., council chairperson of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines confirming the tragic incident.

ZAMCELCO has not taken responsibility for the accident but, in a statement, expressed condolences to the families of the three boy scouts who died at the start of the jamboree in Pasonanca.

ZAMCELCO said it would cooperate with authorities in their investigation and was taking immediate steps to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Source: ABS-CBN News 

Be part of ImHenyo community!

Get featured by sharing your stories, news, and comments

Email us at [email protected]