CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Six Aeta indigenous people, including three minors, died while three others are missing people after the boat they were riding capsized while traversing the Mapanuepe Lake in Barangay Buhawen, San Marcelino, Zambales on Aug. 27.
Initial reports gathered from authorities said that at around 4:40 p.m. of that day, 13 individuals took a motorized boat to cross the lake towards Sitio Lumibao from Buhawen Proper. The group came from a vaccination drive at the Barangay Buhawen Health Center and also attended a 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) meeting, sources added. They were on their way home when the motorized boat capsized.
The municipal disaster risk reduction and management office of San Marcelino, the San Marcelino Municipal Police Station, the Bureau of Fire Protection-San Marcelino, and the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company responded to the incident.
Four passengers survived. The search and rescue team is still looking for the missing 5-year-old, a 12-year-old, and a pregnant adult.
Officials and staff of Barangay Buhawen also joined the search, rescue, and retrieval operations as authorities continue to identify the victims.
Operations were temporarily suspended around 6:45 p.m. due to bad weather conditions. Punto News Team/Photos: San Marcelino PIO
