Typhoon Doksuri death toll touches 30 after boat sinks in Philippines

Philippines: At least 21 people lost their lives, and 40 others were successfully rescued after a passenger boat, MBCA Aya, overturned due to strong winds in Laguna Lake on Thursday, as confirmed by local authorities.

The boat tragedy unfolded near Kalinawan village in Binangonan town, Rizal province, when fierce winds battered the vessel, causing panic among the passengers. The boat capsized when many passengers rushed to one side, causing it to lose balance.

Immediately, a search and rescue operation was launched by the Rizal provincial police in collaboration with the coast guard and other local authorities. As a result, 40 individuals were rescued, but sadly, 21 others drowned. Rescue efforts are ongoing as they try to find any other possible survivors.

Authorities have not yet provided exact figures for the total number of people on board the boat when it capsized, but they promise to update the public as more information becomes available.

The incident occurred after Typhoon Doksuri passed through the northern Philippines, bringing severe weather conditions and enhancing monsoon rains across the archipelago. The death toll from stormy weather, including landslides and flooding, has now reached at least 30, with thousands of people displaced.

Sea travel was suspended in numerous ports during the typhoon’s onslaught, but the no-sail orders have been gradually lifted as the weather conditions improve in many areas.

Coast guard spokesman, Armand Balilo, mentioned that the MBCA Aya was permitted to sail from Binangonan to nearby Talim island, believing that the typhoon had already moved away from the country.

Despite the typhoon’s departure, some northern provinces remain under cyclone wind alert, restricting fishing boats and smaller vessels from venturing out to sea.

While the weather improves in some regions, heavy rains persist in several towns and cities in the capital region, metropolitan Manila, located west of Rizal province.

Sea accidents are not uncommon in the Philippines due to various factors, such as frequent storms, poorly maintained boats, overcrowding, and lax enforcement of safety regulations.