10 killed, 2 missing as boat sinks in Liguasan River in Maguindanao

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines—Ten drowned while two remained missing as of Tuesday, when the passenger boat they were riding in capsized on the turbulent Liguasan River passing through Pagalungan and Sultan sa Barongis towns in Maguindanao on Monday afternoon, a town official said.

Sultan sa Barongis Mayor Allan Angas told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone that 10 bodies had been fished out of the river as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, nearly 24 hours since the boat, which was carrying a total of 18 people sank.

At the time the Inquirer interviewed Angas on Tuesday afternoon, he said two of the passengers remained missing while six others had been rescued.

He said other search and rescue teams, including those from North Cotabato, had joined the retrieval operation for the missing victims.

The ill-fated passenger boat sailed from Pagalungan town to Sultan sa Barongis when it suddenly capsized in the turbulent river around 6 p.m. on Monday.

Angas said based on the account of the survivors, the boat’s operator – whom he did not identify – lost control of the vessel when it was hit by a strong wind as it was tackling the rampaging portion of the river near Sultan sa Barongis.