Search, retrieval Operations in Mapanuepe Lake drowning incident suspended due to bad weather
Search, rescue and retrieval operations at Mapanuepe Lake in Barangay Buhawen, San Marcelino, Zambales remain suspended Friday, August 28, due to inclement weather. Operations will resume once weather and safety conditions permit. (Photo via Liezle Inigo)
SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — Search, rescue and retrieval operations for the victims of the drowning incident at Mapanuepe Lake in Barangay Buhawen here remained suspended Friday, August 28, due to inclement weather conditions in the area.
Three passengers remain missing after the motorized banca they were riding while they were headed home to Sitio Lumibao capsized in the waters off Barangay Buhawen. Six others, all members of an Aeta community, were earlier reported to have drowned in the incident.
A report from the office of Col.Benjamin Ariola, Zambales PPO ditrector said that, as of 10:30 a.m., personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Zambales, San Marcelino Municipal Police Station, Second Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Zambales Police Provincial Office, Olongapo Maritime, Bureau of Fire Protection, and municipal disaster risk reduction and management offices of San Marcelino and San Antonio were involved in the operation.
PCG Station Zambales conducted an initial assessment of the area at around 6 a.m. Friday but operating units were unable to proceed with the search, rescue and retrieval activities.
It was learned that prevailing weather conditions posed safety risks to responders.
Authorities said operations will resume once weather and safety conditions permit.
The Incident Command System (ICS) has also been activated, with an Incident Command Post (ICP) established at the Barangay Hall of Buhawen to coordinate the ongoing response.
The operation is being supervise by Police Maj. Exodus Rodriguez, who serves as the designated point of contact for the incident.