A boat passenger died while 94 others were rescued after a motorbanca sank near Simara Island in Corcuera, Romblon on Saturday, August 5.
Photo: PCG
Initial information from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) identified the distressed motorbanca as “King Sto. Niño 7”, which had 90 passengers, five crew members, and a motorcycle onboard.
The PCG said that the boat has a capacity of 96 passengers.
Of those onboard, one passenger died while 94 individuals were saved including five crew members of the boat.
The motorbanca sank in the vicinity waters off Corcuera town around 12:30 p.m. after departing from the port in the municipality of Calatrava. It was sailing at a speed of 19 knots.
“Immediately, personnel of COP [Command Out Post] Corcuera and Coast Guard Sub-Station Calatrava proceeded to the said location to conduct a search and rescue operation,” the PCG said.
Some of the passengers of the motorbanca reportedly included youths who came from a summer camp of a local church in Odiongan, Romblon.
Netizen Alden Dy Fajilan uploaded photos and videos of the passengers’ ordeal on social media, showing some of them clutching into the wreckage of the half-submerged boat to stay afloat.
“We need help from the PCG please. Send help,” Fajilan wrote on his Facebook account.