Boat capsizes in Philippines, 7 dead
A pump boat carrying about 36 passengers and five crew memberscapsized in Iloilo-Guimaras Strait in central Philippines at around 4 p.m. on Sunday (October 18).
According to the Philippine Coast Guard-Iloilo (PCG), the passenger motorboat with 41 people on board capsized in a storm, leaving seven dead and two others missing.
"MB Tawash left Iloilo with 36 passengers and five crew members going to Guimaras when it was suddenly blown by strong winds in the middle of the sea causing it to capsize," says a statement from the Coast Guard.
The incident was first responded by the Ocean Jet fast craft heading to Iloilo from Negros Occidental.
Coast guard rescuers and passing vessels recovered 32 survivors. Among the dead were two boys aged 6 and 9 and two of the crew members. A 3-year-old boy is among the missing.
The storm is not believed to be connected to Typhoon Koppu, which struck northeastern provinces of the Philippines on Sunday.