Tuesday, May 13, 2008 17 people rescued after boat capsizes off Olango due to strong winds, waves
SEVENTEN people were rescued 30 minutes after their small motor boat capsized off Olango Island at past 4 p.m. Sunday.
The survivors, 15 passengers and two crew members, were headed to Barangay Sta. Rosa after attending the annual fiesta celebration in the adjacent islet of Barangay Caubian.
But as they reached the Olango Channel, the whether condition suddenly worsened, bringing strong winds and heavy rains.
Big waves continuously thumped their boat until it capsized, the victims told the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.
No one was injured, though, as all 17 of them were immediately rescued by the other revelers who were in another boat that tailed theirs.
SPO1 Rodito Viovecente of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office said four female survivors identified as Richel Pino, Ray An Malinao, both 18 years old; Eillene Buagaban, 35, and Rosalinda Malinao, 45, were brought by their rescuers to the police office to have the incident recorded.
The other 11 passengers and the crew members were taken to Sta. Rosa by the rescuers.
The incident occurred around the same time authorities issued a warning on weather disturbances this week, which could result in disasters and calamities.
With the heavy rains since last week, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) 7 warned residents of flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to be cautious.
The warning was made in the general flood advisory the body issued for Central Visayas.
Office of the Civil Defense Executive Officer Rosario Cabrera told reporters yesterday that those living near mountain slopes should be on alert for possible flash floods and landslides.
She gave the same warning to those who live near or along rivers and streams and those in low-lying areas.
In Cebu, they expect bodies of water, such as the Guinabasan River, Mananga River and streams near the Carcar River Basin, to be affected by the “light to occasionally moderate rains for the next 24 hours.”
Similar warnings were given to the local disaster coordinating councils in Bohol for those near the Abatan River, Loboc River, Inabanga River, Ipil River and Matulid River.
They also warned those living near the Tyabanan River, Pagatban River, Bayawan River, Sipocing River, Siaton River, Candugay River, Tanjay River and Libertad River in Oriental Negros.
As of yesterday, Typhoon Butchoy was seen northeast of Basco, Batanes, but rains continued to pour throughout the day in Cebu.
It was expected to be outside the Philippine area of responsibility as of yesterday afternoon, but the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa) said the Visayas area “will continue to experience occasional monsoon rains.”
Cabrera said they received situation bulletins every six hours and assured that the local disaster coordinating councils are always on alert during weather disturbances.
She added that search and rescue groups are also on call to respond to any disaster. (AIV/MEA)
