One dead, three injured after boat capsizes off Cebu, Philippines

One person was killed while another three were injured after a boat carrying 46 passengers and seven crew capsized off Cebu province in the central Philippines on Friday, October 29.

The banca-type passenger boat Mercery was sailing off Gato and Garrasa Islands in Cebu when it encountered rough seas on Friday.

The crew then sighted water ingress near the bow and damage to one of the outriggers, which then caused the boat to keel over while still some distance from shore.

Rescue boats of the Philippine Coast Guard and some Good Samaritan vessels immediately proceeded to the site of the capsizing to render assistance. All 53 people who were on Mercery were pulled out of the water and ferried to Maya Port in Cebu.

The coast guard said that an elderly female passenger died as a result of the mishap while three other individuals suffered non-life-threatening injuries and have since been brought to hospital.

The boat had sailed out of Daanbantayan in Cebu and was en route to Carnaza Island some 30 kilometres away when it capsized.

An initial investigation revealed that the boat had left Daanbantayan despite not having been given clearance to sail by the coast guard.