TWO siblings died in Hinoba-an town after their family ate crabs in Sitio Bagtik, Barangay Bulawangan, Hinoba-an.
The victims were identified as Fluro brothers aged 6 and 8 years old.
Based on the report of Police Major Clifford Batadjay, Chief of Hinoba-an Police Station, the father identified as Bernard Fluro told them that he gathered the crabs locally known as "Kukudlong or Kumong-Kumong" during a foraging activity last Monday evening.
His family ate the crabs for breakfast on Tuesday, March 17. A few hours after eating, his three children started experiencing stomach aches, nausea and vomiting.
The whole family were brought to Don Eleuterio Decena Memorial Hospital in Hinoba-an but the two siblings died.
Based on initial findings, the crabs are suspected to be a species of Zosimus Aeneus which has presence of neurotoxins tetrodotoxin, and saxitoxin.
Authorities have already coordinated with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to determine if the crabs that were gathered are indeed poisonous. (TDE)