3 dead, 2 in critical condition, more than 20 missing as 3 motor bancas sink off Iloilo

Three passengers were killed, two remained in critical condition, and more than 20 went missing after three motor bancas sank Saturday morning in the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait due to strong monsoon winds.

A News TV Live report said one of the boats, MB Che-che, carried a total of 43 passengers and eight crew members. So far, 24 people have been rescued. An earlier report said at least 23 passengers were still missing.

Iloilo sea tragedy rescue operation. Photo courtesy by GLOC International

Citing initial information from the Philippine Coast Guard-Western Visayas, RGMA-Iloilo's Hope Gegantoca reported on Super Radyo dzBB that strong winds from Habagat (Southwest Monsoon) sank the pump boats navigating the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait.

Mahigit 20 pasahero, nailigtas sa lumubog na mga bangka sa Iloilo - Guimaras Strait. |via Hope Gegantoca ng RGMA Iloilo

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 3, 2019

An initial Coast guard investigation showed that the three vessels left Iloilo port heading for Guimaras Island, and strong winds sank them while navigating the strait.

The number of passengers on board the two other sunken boats has not yet been determined.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing. —LBG/MDM, GMA News