10 dead, more missing as huge waves rip pumpboats in Concepcion
Concepcion map
Ten locals are confirmed dead as an undetermined number remain missing when huge waves brought by Tropical Depression "Quinta" ripped at least three passenger pumpboats off Concepcion, Iloilo.
Search and rescue operations continued till early evening yesterday as Mayor Elizabeth Salcedo ordered the presence of town police in the island-village of Maliog-liog.
Mayor Salcedo confirmed the report to The News Today (TNT) saying she immediately activated the town's disaster coordinating council. Sketchy reports reaching the lady mayor disclosed several other pumpboats reportedly damaged as well by the huge waves.
Bodies of the victims, Mayor Salcedo said, were recovered and brought to the shores of Sitio Ulpok. Most of the dead were passengers of M/V Rollie IV which first suffered engine trouble then aided by a smaller pumpboat when overturned by huge waves.
Authorities identified the dead as Gigi Villaran, Tonya Dela Cruz, Juanito Musico, Sheila Olano, Miriam Salundagit, Carmen Padrillan, Aida Libre, Cana Caberoy and Jerson Caberoy. The names of the missing were not readily available as of press time.
The town and surrounding island-villages were rendered powerless due to strong winds.
Travel to and from the Concepcion mainland across Sitio Ulpok is about 40 minutes with daily pumpboat operations here. M/V Rollie IV has a capacity of about 40 to 50 passengers.
A former barangay official reached by Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo said the ill-fated pumpboat was barely minutes to shore when the accident occurred. Distraught family members lined up along the shore to identify the victims.
Rene Gabayeron, who was among those who immediately responded to the area after the incident, confirmed over Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo that they recovered nine bodies from the waters. "We tried to rush them over to the hospital but they were already dead," he said.
According to Gabayeron, the boat developed engine trouble at sea. One of its outriggers was also destroyed by strong waves. A boat owned by Bagongon barangay chief Espiridion Padrillan was dispatched to tow the ill-fated boat. However, the towing line broke and it was then that the boat capsized.
Citing reports he received, Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Raul Banias said that the boat capsized about 200 meters from the shoreline of Sitio Ulpok, Barangay Bagongon, an island barangay.
He said over the radio that they have already coordinated with the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and the Philippine Coast Guard. Paul Nogra, operations chief of the RDCC, told The News Today that the PCG has already dispatched a team from its station in nearby Ajuy town. Also, members of Bantay Dagat are searching for survivors.
"Today is market day, and people from the island barangays travel to the town proper. People from the island barangays must have been in a hurry to go home, that's why the MV Rollie braved the rough seas," Banias pointed out.
The search and rescue operations will continue, Mayor Salcedo assured, as government resources were augmented by private volunteer groups.