Death toll hits 27 in Binangonan boat capsize – PCG
GRIM RETRIEVAL Images from video footage released by Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday show rescue workers retrieving the body of one of the victims who drowned after a boat capsized in Laguna Lake near Binangonan town in Rizal. The vessel (right) overturned due to strong winds and big waves whipped up by Typhoon “Egay.’’ (Photos on the tragedy from AFP and REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Friday afternoon that the number of passengers who died in a motorized banca capsizing in Binangonan, Rizal, on Thursday, rose from 26 to 27.
The tragedy was caused by choppy waves whipped up by typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri), the PCG said.
It also adjusted the number of survivors from 40 to 43.
“We are verifying the cause of the adjusted numbers — revised tally based on the number of survivors, dead yesterday,” the PCG said in a statement.
On Thursday afternoon, the PCG reported that the M/B Princess Aya overturned 50 yards (0.04572 kilometers) off Barangay Kalinawan.
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Based on its initial investigation, only 22 people were listed on the boat’s passenger manifest.
The banca can only take a maximum of 42 passengers, including the boat captain and two crew members.
PCG resumed its search and retrieval operations at 6 a.m. on Friday.
It is set to conduct a parallel investigation of the incident with the Philippine National Police.
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PCG reports 30 ‘casualties’ after motorbanca capsizes off Binangonan, Rizal
