One person died while 95 passengers were saved from a motorbanca that broke open and sank off the coast of Calatrava town in Romblon on Saturday.
It was the latest maritime disaster to hit the country following the capsizing of a passenger ferry in Laguna Lake last month, leading to the deaths of 27 people.
In a television report, Corcuera Mayor Elmer Fruelda said the motorboat was headed to Simara Island from Calatrava when it was hit by big waves, breaking the rear of the banca.
Most of the boat’s passengers had attended a summer youth camp at the church in Odiongan town.
The Philippine Coast Guard and provincial disaster officials managed to get to the sinking boat in time. They have yet to release the identity of the fatality as of press time.
Fruelda said authorities were looking at the possibility that the boat was overloaded, as it was rated to carry from 60 to 80 passengers only.
The Coast Guard said it was within its passenger capacity, but carried extra cargo like motorcycles, which caused it to take in water faster after it ruptured.