ILOILO CITY – The death toll in Sunday's swimming accident of winning Sangguniang Kabataan candidates in Iloilo rose to six yesterday after the remains of a young girl who was earlier reported missing was recovered by rescue teams.

Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, Iloilo provincial police director, said the remains of SK councilor Lovelyn Bollos, 17, was recovered underwater around 7:30 a.m., 50 meters from the shoreline of the Buendia Beach Resort in Carles town in Iloilo. Carles is around 146 kilometers northeast of Iloilo City .

The remains of five other young girls were recovered on Sunday near the area where Bollos was found.

De la Paz earlier identified the other fatalities as SK councilors Mary Ann Labingisa, 13; Eden Agninao, 16; Rizza Arenajo, 16; Cielo Arenajo, 14; and Mary Ann Lagreto, 13.

Three others survived the accident. They were identified as SK chairperson Annie May Langrio, 16; SK councilor Benita Salvador, 16; and Rhea Ann Salle, 14.

The victims, all students of the Balasan National High School , were among the youths from Barangay Malapok in the neighboring town of Balasan who were celebrating the victory of SK candidates from their village at the beach resort in Barangay Barosbos in Carles.

They had arrived at the resort Sunday morning and were swimming when they were swept away by strong waves at around 1 p.m. , De la Paz said in an earlier telephone interview.

Balasan Mayor Filomeno Ganzon said the municipality will extend assistance to the victims' families including the shouldering of their funeral and burial expenses.*NPB

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