JUST IN: Two passenger pump boats have capsized between Iloilo and Guimaras strait on Saturday, August 3.
UPDATE, as of 7:00PM: 3 pump boats capsized, 13 dead while 18 still missing.
In the initial reports, Motorbancas Keziah 2 and Chi-Chi were plying Parola and Jordan wharves when they were suddenly hit by a squall, or a sudden and forceful gust of wind.
Based on the manifests, there are 43 passengers on Chi-chi motorbanca and 4 crews in Keziah 2.
In a radio interview over RMN Iloilo, Guimaras Governor Samuel Gumarin confirmed that there 3 deaths, all women, and 2 in critical condition in Buenavista Hospital.
Another casualty was reported in Iloilo Doctors Hospital, and another in critical condition. 24 survivors were accounted in City Mall clinic.
List of Survivors
Rescue operation is still ongoing for remaining passengers, while authorities have cancelled succeeding Iloilo-Guimaras trips.
This is a developing story. Photo by EL John Guileño CanJa.
