MANILA: Three senior scouts died and 10 others were hospitalised after they were electrocuted at a Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) campsite in Zamboanga City on Thursday (Dec 12).
Those who died were senior scouts aged 22, 18 and 17, BSP-Zamboanga City chairman Jose Rizalino Ortega said.
He said those who were injured – aged 9, 11 and 12 – were in stable condition.
Ortega said the electrocution happened just minutes before the opening of the 2024 citywide BSP jamboree.
About 500 scouts were at the venue.
The 13 scouts who were electrocuted were trying to move a large canopy from the roadside when its tip came into contact with a live wire.
“The canopy was intended to provide shade for the children in the area where they would participate in their (games),” he said.
He said there were cub scouts – kindergarteners and first and third graders – who were at the opening event, but they were not staying at the campsite where the incident happened.
Dr Shadrina Sarapuddin, spokeswoman for the Zamboanga City Medical Centre, said three of the 13 who were electrocuted died on the spot.
“All necessary resuscitation procedures were performed, but they were declared dead on arrival,” she said.
Ortega said the BSP would take full responsibility for the incident.
The jamboree, originally scheduled to run until Dec 15, was promptly canceled.
“This was an unfortunate accident, and our hearts go out to the families of the victims,” Ortega said. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
