Banca capsizes, 6 kids, woman drown BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA CONCEPCION, Iloilo – Heavy rains, big waves and strong winds battered a motorboat until it capsized in the waters of this coastal town, killing six children and an old woman. The sea tragedy took place between the island barangays of Tambaliza and Salvacion on Saturday afternoon. Eight other passengers of the boat survived but sustained injuries. The casualties and survivors were all related and residents of Brgy. Salvacion, according to Concepcion Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council coordinator Joe Vincent Aportadera. They attended the fiesta of Sitio Punting, Brgy. Tambaliza. The motorboat was on its way back to Brgy. Salvacion when a squall hit it around 2:30 p.m., said Aportadera. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration placed Northeastern Iloilo under storm signal No.1 on Saturday afternoon, together with the northern Panay provinces of Aklan and Capiz due to tropical storm Gorio. But Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) chief Jerry Bionat insisted yesterday the sea tragedy had nothing to do with the storm. He said the squall struck after Gorio passed by the area. The casualties were: * Redan Rico, two years old * Justin Rico, 4 * Hanz Christopher Cañete, one month old * Jenia Cañete, 8 * Aurea Rico, 72 * Rachelle Rico, 6; and * Paulo Cañete,10. The survivors were: * Elna Burda, 40 * April Rose Rico, 28 * Alexander Rico, eight months old * Kurt Guillen, 10 * Maricel Cañete, 35 * Gilbert Panican, 15 * Jeffrey Panican, 11; and * Marlon Panican, 37 (boat captain). The bodies of Redan, Justin and Hanz Christopher were recovered by fishermen on Sunday in the waters off Brgy. Buaya, Carles town. Jenia died at the Jesus Colmenares District Hospital in Balasan town where she was taken together with the other survivors by fishermen. The bodies of Aurea, Rachelle and Paulo were recovered yesterday morning in the waters off Brgy. Lantangan, Carles by the Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force. According to Bionat, the injured boat captain was taken to the Sara District Hospital in Sara town. Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. expressed sadness over the incident. He personally went to Concepcion yesterday and checked the situation on the ground. The victims and their families will receive financial assistance, said Bionat. This was so far the deadliest squall to hit the province. A squall also hit Northern Iloilo on May 28. There were no casualties but the damage to properties and livelihood in coastal towns reached over P7.5 million. A squall is a sudden, sharp increase in wind speed associated with an active weather disturbance, according to the PDRRMC. According to Bionat, big waves are produced and water level rises if a squall forms over the sea. This explained why most of the affected areas were coastal towns./PN
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 13:05:06 +0000
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