(Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)
MANILA, Philippines — Two passengers died after a motorbanca capsized off Laoang, Northern Samar on Monday, December 30, 2024.
In an incident report on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said its Laoang sub-station received a call from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office about a capsized private motorbanca carrying six passengers and two crew members.
“During the joint search and rescue (SAR) operation, two bodies were recovered along the shoreline of Barangay Rawis, Laoang,” the PCG said in its report.
(Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)
The remaining four passengers and the two crew members were rescued and brought to safety, it added.
Initial investigation showed that the motorbanca departed from Barangay Rawis in Laoang and was en route to Batag Island.
It flipped over after being struck by large waves amid rough sea conditions.
“The joint SAR team transported the recovered cadavers to Laoang Rural Health Unit for post-mortem examination, while the survivors were brought to the nearest hospital for medical assistance,” the PCG said.