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Squall may have caused Iloilo-Guimaras sea tragedy

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Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/reuters/08/05/20190804-philippines-boats-capsize1.jpg"/><figcaption>A handout photo from the Philippine Red Cross shows the capsized ferries off the waters of Iloilo City, Philippines August 3, 2019. <em>Philippine Red Cross/Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Investigators are looking into witness accounts that a squall or sudden violent winds caused 3 ferries to capsize off the central island of Guimaras and Iloilo provinces over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday.</p><p>At least 28 people <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/05/19/death-toll-in-capsized-philippine-ferries-climbs-to-31" target="_blank">were killed</a> when the motorized, wooden-hulled boats capsized, PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said, adding that the search continues for 3 more people.</p><p>&quot;Ang naging cause na sinasabi ay iyung biglang lakas ng alon o iyung squall. Ang sabi nga doon sa maritime community, iyung &#x27;subasko&#x27; na tinatawag... May mga bahay din na naapektuhan nitong parang ipo-ipo na tumama sa area,&quot; he told radio DZMM</p><p>(The supposed cause is the sudden swelling of the waves or squall. The maritime community calls this locally as &#x27;subasko.&#x27; There were houses that were destroyed before the tornado of sorts hit the area.)</p><p>Two of the ferries were carrying 45 and 40 passengers, below their capacity of 47 and 44, respectively, said Balilo.</p><p>A third ferry was not carrying passengers and all of its 5 crew members survived, he said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/964jBZ1Vyfc?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The weather bureau had not raised a gale warning in the area before the ferries ventured off to sea, said the official.</p><p>&quot;Iyung tumamang hangin at alon sa kanila, talagang hindi po na-predict ito,&quot; Balilo said.</p><p>(The wind and wave that hit them were not predicted.)</p><p>The number of casualties from the coast guard is higher than the death toll being reported by the Iloilo disaster agency, which was at 28.<br/> <br/>Scores of people die each year from ferry accidents in the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,100 islands with a poor record for maritime safety. <strong>With a report from Reuters</strong></p>

<p>Investigators are looking into witness accounts that a squall or sudden violent winds caused 3 ferries to overturn off the central island of Guimaras and Iloilo provinces over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday.</p>

Investigators are looking into witness accounts that a squall or sudden violent winds caused 3 ferries to overturn off the central island of Guimaras and Iloilo provinces over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday.

Squall may have caused Iloilo-Guimaras sea tragedy

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Squall may have caused Iloilo-Guimaras sea tragedy

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 05, 2019 08:24 AM PHT

|

Updated August 05, 2019 05:19 PM PHT

Read More:

DZMM

disaster

maritime accident

ferries

capsize

Guimaras

Iloilo

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