What's a squall? Mang Tani explains possible cause of Iloilo-Guimaras sea tragedy

The tragic incident at the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait that claimed dozens of lives may have been caused by a squall, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz on Monday said in a 24 Oras weather report that a squall is a sudden blow of strong wind.

"Kapag may intense thunderstorm, posible pong lumakas 'yung hangin. Hangin 'yan na galing sa ulap ha. Bagamat sandali lang ito ay malakas ito at mapanganib lalo na kung sa dagat ito magaganap dahil pwede nitong pataasin o palakasin ang alon," Mang Tani said.

PAGASA also defined squall as a "sudden storm of brief duration" and a "sudden brief blast of wind."

It is closely akin to thunderstorm but is not necessarily attended by thunder and lightning, the state weather bureau added.

Three motorized bancas capsized due to a squall on Saturday.

Two of these—M/B Chichi and M/B Keziah were from Iloilo and en route to Guimaras. The other overturned boat was M/B Jenny Vince which was bound for Iloilo.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the sea condition was fine when the clearance to travel was given to the Guimaras-bound boats.

"May buhawi kasi galing sa Mansaya then parang napunta doon sa M/B Chichi na nandoon sa laot so parang iyon ang nagtaob sa kaniya," Commander Perlita Cinco of the Coast Guard Iloilo Station said.

She added that the structure of the boat may have also played a factor in the tragic incident.

"'Yung bangka po may tolda 'yun na bubong niya so delikado po iyon dahil pag malakas ang hangin pwede siyang ibaliktad ng hangin," Cinco said. —Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA News