MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippine coast guard announced on Friday that it will conduct an investigation to determine why an overloaded passenger boat capsized in a lake near the capital, resulting in the death of at least 26 individuals.
The coast guard stated that the vessel sank in strong winds and was carrying a significantly larger number of passengers than it was designed to accommodate. As a result, 40 individuals were rescued by authorities.
“We have already initiated an investigation, including looking into the actions of our personnel,” said coast guard spokesperson Armand Balilo during an interview with CNN Philippines television. He added that complaints will be filed against the boat’s captain and operator.
Although the vessel was designed for approximately 40 passengers, the exact number of individuals allowed on board is still unclear. According to the coast guard, the manifest only showed 22 names.
Rescue and retrieval operations are currently ongoing, as mentioned by Balilo.
This incident marks the second-deadliest occurrence in the country this year, following a ferry fire in the southern Philippines which claimed the lives of 33 people in March.
The Philippines recently experienced the impact of Typhoon Doksuri, with its northern and most populous island, Luzon, including the capital city of Manila, being hit by winds reaching up to 175 km an hour (108 miles an hour).
The country has a mixed track record in terms of maritime safety, as vessels have often sailed while overcrowded, and many old ships are still in use.
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
