The Philippine Coast Guard and other local partners have concluded search and rescue/retrieval (SAR) operations in the wake of a passenger boat capsizing incident that occurred in Zambales province in the northern Philippines late last week.
The SAR operation was declared concluded with the recovery of the remains of the three victims who were initially declared missing after an unnamed banca-type boat overturned while transiting Zambales' Mapanuepe Lake on Thursday, August 27.
Six other victims were recovered and but were pronounced deceased within hours of the capsizing while the last three missing individuals were found over the next three days. The deceased also included small children.
Only four people survived among those who were on the boat when it overturned.
The survivors said the boat encountered strong winds and large waves as it was underway between two villages.
The SAR operation conducted over the weekend was hampered by heavy monsoon rains.
The coast guard had said earlier that it will conduct an investigation to identify the probable causes of the capsizing.
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