Saturday, July 08, 2006
Taiwanese missing in boating accident at Taal Lake (7:05 p.m.)
MANILA -- A Taiwanese tourist was missing Saturday after big waves overturned a motorized outrigger boat on a volcanic lake in the Philippines, police said.
Pei-chun Chang, 42, was returning along with five other Taiwanese tourists from Taal Volcano island to a resort in Talisay town on the shores of Taal Lake when the weather suddenly turned bad, with heavy rain and waves whipped up by strong winds, police said.
A large wave slammed into the boat's left side, flipping it and tossing the six tourists and the Filipino boat operator into the water, police investigator Antonio Umahon said by telephone from Talisay, about 75 kilometers (47 miles) south of Manila.
Fishermen and a passing tour boat came to their rescue after about 20 minutes, but Chang could not be found. Among those rescued were a man and his wife and their two sons, ages 6 and 9, Umahon said.
Umahon said Chang was part of a 20-member Taiwanese tour group that visited the volcano in three motorized outriggers. The two other boats made it back to the resort without incident, he said.
Umahon said the search for Chang would continue until nightfall, and authorities had informed communities on the lake's shore to be on the lookout for the missing tourist.
Taal, an active volcano, is one of the country's top tourist destinations, and locals offer guided treks on the volcano's island.(AP) |
