ILOILO City – A motorboat ferrying tourists capsized in the waters of Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan yesterday morning. A Chinese national died while three others were hospitalized.
The 45-year-old Hong Fang Juai was from Su Zhuo, China. She was declared dead at the Ciriaco S. Tirol Hospital in mainland Malay.
The three others who were hospitalized were also Chinese women. They were Lu Kuaile, 11; Luo Mei, 60; and Gao Yue, 24.
The capsizing happened at around 11:10 a.m. M/V Jovilyn 1 was on its way back to Station 1, Barangay Balabag when big waves hit it, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Pablito, Malay police chief.
The motorboat had a total of 28 individuals – 25 passengers (two were Filipino tourist guides), two crew and one skipper or boat captain. They went island hopping prior to the capsizing.
Nearby motorboats and the Philippine Coast Guard came to the aid of M/V Jovilyn 1 passengers and boat captain Jemer Fernando.
“Perhaps the fatality did not know how to swim,” said Pablito.
According to the coastguard, its rescue team failed to revive Hong despite performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The Malay police launched an investigation. Among others, it wanted to determine if the boat had available lifejackets for its passengers.
Citing photographs, Pablito said the passengers appeared to be wearing no life vests.
“Kasi if you are wearing a life jacket hindi ka agad malulunod kahit hindi ka marunong lumangoy. Pero kung wala, talagang malulunod ka. We have to investigate. A boat captain should make sure all his passengers have life jackets,” said Pablito./PN
