Boat capsizes off Catbalogan City, 8 survive

TACLOBAN CITY – Eight people survived after the passenger boat they were riding on capsized Thursday night in Catbalogan City, Samar due to strong winds and big waves spawned by Typhoon “Ompong” (International name: “Mungkhat”).

Among the survivors were boat owner Evelyn Duran and her husband Joseph, who served as the boat captain, according to Seaman First Class Noel Ortega of the Coast Guard Station in Catbalogan City.

Ortega said M/B CA3J Signwater capsized off Canduyong Island, about 500 meters away from the wharf of Catbalogan about 7 p.m.

Also on board, were Oliver Bueno, Rexan Duran, Jun Villegas, Jovito Bueno, and two unidentified passengers.

The boat was on its way to Barangay Singko, an island village where the victims reside when it was battered by strong winds and big waves brought by Ompong, which caused the boat to capsize, Ortega said in a phone interview.

“The bow of the passenger boat was damaged which resulted [in] water [entering] and [capsizing] the boat,” he said.

The boat owner was able to contact a relative from Barangay Singko, who owns a boat and rescue them, Ortega said.

While the passengers suffered minor bruises and appeared to be weak, they were okay, the Coast Guard personnel said.

“They were brought to Barangay San Roque, the nearest area where they capsized and were given initial treatment,” Ortega said.

The ill-fated boat earlier arrived at the Catbalogan port loaded with nine teachers and was on its way home when it met the incident.