Boat capsizes off Iloilo City port; 36 of 37 passengers rescued

passengers of MV Tawash which capsized along guimaras straight holding on the hull of the capsized boat (Contributed by Mark Piad)

ILOILO CITY – A passenger motorboat bound for Guimaras capsized past 4 p.m. on Sunday, about 1.5 nautical miles from wharf in Iloilo City, after being battered by strong waves spawned by typhoon “Lando.”

Lt. Edison Diaz, Iloilo Coast Guard Station Commander,  said 36 of the 37 passengers and crew member had been rescued.

He said they were still searching for a female passenger as of 8:30 p.m.

Six passengers including an 8-year-old girl were in the hospital undergoing medical treatment.

“We are withholding the names of the survivors pending verification. We will release the names once it’s final. So far, we have accounted 36 of the 37 passengers and crew,” Diaz said.

The boat was on its way from Iloilo City to Jordan port on Guimaras Island when the boat suddenly leaned on one side and capsized after being hit by a sudden gust of wind and waves.

The boat has a capacity of 45 passengers excluding crew members but they were allowed to sail with reduced capacity of 31 passengers and five crew members after the weather became fair.

Diaz immediately ordered the stoppage of trips of pump boats plying Iloilo-Guimaras-Iloilo route following the incident.