Lightning strikes fishing boat in Quezon; 2 killed, 7 hurt

LUCENA CITY—Two fishermen were killed and seven others were injured when their fishing boat was hit by lighting in the Pacific Ocean in northern Quezon on Monday, police said.

Senior Superintendent Valeriano de Leon, Quezon police chief, identified the fatalities as Ronnel Nolledo and Ryan Miano, both residents of Barangay (village) Bonbon in the island town of Panukulan.

Quoting spot report from Panukulan police station, De Leon said at around 7:00 a.m. the boat with nine crews was struck with lightning while fishing in nearby Burdeos town.

The two fishermen died on the spot from fatal injuries, De Leon said.

Fishermen in the vicinity who witnessed the tragic incident rushed a seriously injured crew, Berne de los Santos, to Claro M. Recto Hospital in Infanta town.

Nancy Morilla, head of Panukulan social welfare office, said six other fishing crews who sustained minor injuries were treated by local health workers.

Panukulan lies in Polillo island located in the Pacific Ocean about 18 miles off the eastern coast of Luzon.

The island can be reached by motorboats more or less three hours from the ports of Real and Infanta towns in northern Quezon mainland.

The island hosts three municipalities: Polillo, Burdeos and Panukulan.