6 children killed as boat capsizes off Iloilo town
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ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Tragedy struck island residents on their way home from a barangay (village) fiesta when their boat capsized in the waters off Concepcion town, Iloilo Saturday afternoon leaving six children, including a one-month-old baby, dead and one person missing.
Eight passengers of the motorboat “Clien” survived after nearly 24 hours in the water, said Lieutenant Commander Dominador Senador III, Iloilo Coast Guard station commander.
Former Concepcion mayor and Iloilo provincial board member Raul Banias identified four of the fatalities as Baby Boy Cañete, 1 month; Justine Rico, 4; Redan Rico, 2; and Jenina Cañete, 8.
The bodies of Paolo Cañete, 9, and Richelle Rico, 6, were separately recovered by fishermen around noon in the waters of Carles town, according to Vincent Aportadera, municipal disaster risk reduction management officer of Concepcion.
The first three fatalities were declared dead on arrival at the Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in the neighboring town of Balasan while Jenina died Monday morning at the hospital.
Rescue teams are still searching for Aurea Rico, 72. Aportadera said they were still confirming reports that her body was recovered.
The eight survivors were identified as Maricel Cañete, 35; Gilbert Panican, 15; Jeffry Panican, 13; April Rose Rico, 27; Alexander Rico, 8 months; Elna Burdan, 40; Keirt Guillen, 10; and boat captain Marlon Palican, 38.
The victims, all residents of the island-barangay of Salvacion, Concepcion, were on their way home after spending overnight at Barangay Tambaliza, also in Concepcion, for a fiesta when the boat was hit by huge waves and strong winds around 2 p.m. Saturday, said Senador.
Concepcion, about 100 kilometers northeast of Iloilo City, was among the areas under Storm Signal No.1 due to tropical storm “Gorio.”
“Several of the passengers panicked and the boat capsized,” Senador told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
He said the victims clung to the capsized boat and tied their bodies to the vessel to avoid being carried away by the water current.
They were plucked out from the waters only on Sunday at 1 p.m. after two fishermen saw the victims in the waters of Barangay Buaya in the neighboring Carles town. It was only then that the Coast Guard and other civil agencies were alerted.
Senador said the victims could have died due to prolonged exposure to water and hypothermia.
Banias and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor went to Concepcion town Monday to monitor the search and rescue operations for the missing and to give assistance to the victims.
