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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PCG: Last missing Aeta passenger in Lake Mapanuepe tragedy in Zambales found dead

PCG: Last missing Aeta passenger in Lake Mapanuepe tragedy in Zambales found dead

Published Aug 30, 2026 02:34 pm

At A Glance

  • The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recovered the body of a 26-year-old Aeta woman, the final missing passenger from the Mapanuepe Lake boat tragedy, at around 11:20 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30.
  • The Aug. 27 incident killed nine of the 13 Aeta passengers, including three adults and six minors. Four others survived.
  • The group had traveled to Barangay Buhawen for food, medicine and vaccinations before strong winds and waves struck their boat while they were returning to Sitio Lumibao.
Search and rescue personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recover the lifeless body of the last missing passenger from a capsized motorboat in Mapanuepe Lake, San Marcelino, Zambales, on August 30, 2026. The tragedy has now claimed nine lives, including three adults and six minors, making it one of the deadliest incidents in the area in recent years. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard)
Search and rescue personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recover the lifeless body of the last missing passenger from a capsized motorboat in Mapanuepe Lake, San Marcelino, Zambales, on August 30, 2026. The tragedy has now claimed nine lives, including three adults and six minors, making it one of the deadliest incidents in the area in recent years. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard)
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed Sunday, August 30, that the body of the final passenger who went missing after a boat sank in Mapanuepe Lake in San Marcelino, Zambales, has been recovered.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the search and rescue (SAR) team found the body of the 26-year-old female passenger off the coast of Sitio Naban in Barangay Buhawen, where the boat sank, at around 11:20 a.m.
“The cadaver was found at 11:20 a.m. today, 1,100 meters from the location of the subject motorbanca,” Cayabyab said.
The tragedy has now claimed nine lives, including three adults and six minors, making it one of the deadliest incidents in the area in recent years.
To recall, a motorboat carrying 13 members of the Aeta community from Sitio Lumibao capsized and sank in Mapanuepe Lake on Aug. 27.
The group had traveled to Barangay Buhawen to obtain food, medicine and vaccinations. They were on their way home when strong winds and waves struck the boat.
Six people were initially confirmed dead on Aug. 28, while four others were rescued. Two children were found dead on Aug. 29, with their bodies later identified by their fathers.
Mapanuepe Lake was formed after the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption, which blocked river channels and created a deep body of water in San Marcelino.

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PCG Lake Mapanuepe Aeta community Zambales
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