Four people drowned while nine others were rescued after the pump boat they were riding capsized in Panguil Bay off the coast of Barangay Cabgan, Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur.

The incident happened around 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

The 13 passengers were members of the same family and were supposed to visit their fish cage in Barangay Bocator, Tanub City, Misamis Occidental when the incident happened.

According to the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office, the boat had departed from Barangay Balas in Aurora town and while crossing the Panguil Bay, the boat’s engine allegedly malfunctioned and was struck by big waves, causing it to lose balance and eventually capsize.

Nine of the passengers who were rescued by the police and members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) sustained minor injuries.

Authorities said two of the four fatalities, a 38-year-old and 39-year-old women, were retrieved from underwater and were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

A nine-year-old boy was also found dead in the waters around 9:30 p.m. on the same day while the fourth fatality, a three-year-old boy, was recovered lifeless the next day during continued search and rescue operations.