OLONGAPO CITY, April 10, 2026 — Two four-year-old cousins died after being trapped inside a parked vehicle in Barangay Barretto, Olongapo City, in what authorities described as another tragic incident involving children accidentally locked inside cars.

Police investigators said the boys were playing with other relatives before they separated and entered the parked car, which was captured on CCTV footage.

The footage showed the children voluntarily climbing into the vehicle around midday, with no one noticing until hours later.

After nearly three hours, the boys were discovered unconscious inside the car, with one declared dead at the scene and the other rushed to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Authorities believe the cause of death was suffocation and extreme heat inside the enclosed vehicle, which had been parked under the sun.

The Olongapo City Police Station 6 confirmed that the children were found by relatives who had been searching for them after they went missing during playtime.

Local officials expressed grief over the incident and reminded parents and guardians to closely monitor children, especially in residential areas where vehicles are accessible.

Child safety advocates noted that similar cases have occurred in the Philippines in recent years, underscoring the dangers of leaving vehicles unlocked and unattended.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) urged communities to increase vigilance and awareness, stressing that children’s curiosity often leads them into hazardous situations.

Residents of Barangay Barretto have called for stronger safety measures, including public awareness campaigns and stricter monitoring of parked vehicles in neighborhoods.

The tragic deaths of the two cousins serve as a painful reminder of the importance of child supervision and the risks posed by unattended vehicles in hot climates.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident, but officials emphasized that prevention through community vigilance and parental guidance remains the most effective safeguard against similar tragedies.