Boat capsizes; all passengers, crew rescued

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines  — A pumpboat carrying 10 people, mostly teachers, capsized near Catbalogan City in Samar Saturday evening due to big waves caused by typhoon Butchoy.

Mayor Lucia Astorga of the island town of Daram in Samar said the boat came from Barangay Birawan and was on its way to Catbalogan when it encountered big waves and capsized at around 7 p.m.

“The Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard immediately responded to the scene after they were informed by concerned citizens in Barangay Cagutan Sierra about the incident,” Astorga told The Freeman in a telephone interview.

“The passengers were all teachers who came from Birawan National High School. They were rescued including the two crew members at around 9 p.m.,” said the mayor.

Barangay officials of adjacent coastal barangays of Cagutan Sierra were also asked to help in the search and rescue operations.