Courtesy: PCG
A 55-year-old woman died while at least 90 more passengers and crew were rescued when the motorbanca they were riding submerges at vicinity waters of municipality of Corcuera, Province of Romblon, Saturday afternoon, said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
According to the PCG, the boat left Calatrava Port bound to Corcuera Port with five crew and 90 passengers with one motorcycle onboard. The boat’s authorized passenger capacity is up to 96 people, the Coast Guard added.
At around 12:30 pm, personnel of CG Corcuera received a phone call from Barangay Captain, Honorable Jeffrey Factor who reported about the boat he was onboard was in distress.
Immediately personnel of Command Outpost Corcuera proceeded to the said location to conduct search and rescue operation onboard Motorbanca Corcuera Liner.
Additionally, Coast Guard Station in Romblon also deployed the personnel of Coast Guard Sub Station Calatrava to assist the said operation.
Likewise, deployed Coast Guard Station Romblon personnel were onboard assisting Provincial Government of Romblon (PGR) speedboat.
All 89 passengers (among them are 10 children) and five crew were brought to shoreline of Barangay Ilijan in Corcuera.
Three passengers were slightly injured and identified as January Vien Defeo (16 y.o., Brgy Ambulong), Hazel Jane Faderagao, 23, of Brgy Mangansag, Ira Mariz Fruelda, 17, of Brgy. Mangansag, all in Corcuera.
The fatality died due to cardiac arrest as per attending physician on the ground.
The identity of the deceased is not released until most of their closest family members (next of kin) have been notified. As per the Boat Captain, Mr Jose Moreno Sr., Mbca Sto. Niño King 7 submerged due to a direct hit from a solid wood.
