3 dead, 1 missing in Romblon, Mindoro sea accidents

Romblon town in Romblon (Google maps)

SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna—Three people died, while one went missing in two separate sea tragedies in the provinces of Romblon and Mindoro on Friday.

In Romblon, Romblon, three people died after an inter-island passenger boat sank at the height of strong waves around 1 p.m. in Barangay (village) Agbudia, according to an initial report from the police.

The boat named Alad Express was carrying 55 people when it left Magdiwang town.

Supt. Imelda Tolentino, spokesperson of the Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan police, said a resident reported seeing strong waves and a tornado at the time the boat sank.

Search and rescue operations continued, she said.

In Oriental Mindoro, a fisherman went missing after his boat capsized around 4:30 a.m.

Tolentino identified the missing person as Junar Cuasay Albufera, 44, and a resident of Barangay Estrella in Naujan town.

According to the initial police report, a cargo vessel with a marking that read “Gotong” hit the boat, as it was about 15 kilometers off the shoreline.

Search continues to find the missing fisherman.