A 40-year-old woman died while her husband and four children were rescued after the boat they were riding capsized in Lake Buluan in the town of Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur.

The woman reportedly drowned after their boat overturned while they were on their way to their family’s fish cage in Barangay Maslabeng on Monday, November 3, 2025.

Her body was retrieved after nearly three hours of search and rescue operations. Rescuers performed CPR after she was pulled from the water, but she was declared dead.

The woman’s children, between four to nine years old, her husband, and two other relatives were rescued safely.

It was learned that the woman tried to save her youngest son before drowning.

“According doon sa tatay, nung sinasalba niya yung bata, yun, nalunod yung nanay. Sa kasamaang palad, namatay ito during sa pag-rescue sa kanya,” Buluan Vice Mayor King Mangudadatu, said.

Authorities said overloading caused the boat to capsize.

“Good for 5 lang yung bangka. Dahil mga bata yung mga kasama nila, siguro in-anticipate nila di makaka-capsize pero sa kasamaang palad, tumaob yung bangka dahil overloaded,” Mangudadatu added.

The local government has extended assistance to the family.