LUCENA CITY, Quezon – Eleven people were rescued from a motor boat that capsized after it was battered by strong winds and big waves in the sea off Panukulan, Polillo Island, this province, on Friday afternoon, August 18.

The Panukulan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) said rescued were the couple who owned the boat and their two-month-old son and eight relatives.

The victims came from a festival in Barangay Bonifacio in Burdeos, Quezon and were on their way to Infanta, Quezon when they were hit by strong winds and big waves.

The boat overturned but the passengers managed to cling to the exposed part of the vessel.

They were rescued by a nearby boat and were taken to the shoreline in Barangay San Juan, Panukulan where they were met and examined by the Panukulan MDRRMO, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, and Panukulan police.

Authorities said the boat which can only accommodate five to six people exceeded capacity with 11 persons on board.

Only fishermen rescued the victims as there is no Philippine Coast Guard personnel assigned to the area. The boat was towed to the shoreline of Panukulan.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/18/11-rescued-from-capsized-boat-in-quezon)