Zambales boat mishap death toll climbs to 8

MANILA, Philippines — The number of fatalities in the sinking of a motorized boat in San Marcelino, Zambales has increased to eight after two of three missing victims were found yesterday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed the recovered bodies were among passengers of the boat that capsized in Mapanuepe Lake on Thursday.

Relatives positively identified the victims.

PCG spokesperson Cmdre. Noemie Cayabyab said one of the bodies, a female minor, was found approximately 50 meters away from the area where the boat sank.

Residents of Barangay Buhawen found the victim at past 10 a.m.

Cayabyab said the other victim, a male minor, was found approximately 30 meters away from the area of the accident.

The body was found at around 11 a.m. by members of a search and rescue team.

Cayabyab said the search for the remaining missing victim, an adult, would continue.

The PCG initially reported that six people died while three others were missing and four survived in the incident.

The victims were members of an indigenous peoples’ group who were returning home from a vaccination activity at a health center located across the lake.

The boat encountered bad weather as it was crossing the Mapanuepe Lake. — Ric Sapnu