One dead, several injured as motorbanca without clearance capsizes off Cebu

At least one casualty was reported while several passengers were evacuated when the Mercery motorbanca capsized off Daanbantayan in Cebu, the Philippine Coast Guard reported over the weekend.

According to the PCG, the motorbanca capsized off Gato Island and Garrasa Island in Daanbantayan in Cebu on Friday, October 29.

The ship was carrying 46 passengers and seven crew members onboard, and a female senior citizen was reported to have died. The casualty, along with all the survivors, were ferried to the Maya Port.

Reports found that the motorbanca left Barangay Poblacion, Daanbantayan and was on its way to Carnasa Island without the clearance of PCG.

“While traversing the vicinity waters of Gato Island with rough sea condition, water ingress was noticed at the forward portion of the boat which damaged its outrigger, causing it to capsize,” the PCG said in a statement posted on its official Facebook page.

There were three individuals who sustained injuries, who were rushed to the Daanbantayan District Hospital for medical attention. The 49 others were brought to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO).

“The PCG continues to remind boat captains and motorbanca operators to properly comply with the policies and circulars issued by PCG,” the agency reported.

“They are also urged not to venture out into the sea during unfavorable weather conditions to avoid similar incidents in the future,” it added. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News