Taiwanese drowns as boat capsizes in Santa Fe

A Taiwanese national died when the pump boat they were riding capsized in the seawaters off Barangay Okoy, Santa Fe, Cebu around noon last Wednesday due to strong winds and heavy rain.

Chen Su Hsiang, 63, drowned when the big waves struck the pump boat they were riding going back to the mainland.

Santa Fe Police Chief Mikael Mallorca said that the tourists went to Virgin Islands in Barangay Hilantagaan, Sante Fe, Cebu for an island hopping.

On their way back to Santa Fe, the pump boat suddenly capsized and the 12 Taiwanese nationals were thrown into the sea.

“Nag-capsized ilang bangka. Nibaliktad ba tungod sa sobra kakusog sa balod ug sa kakusog sa hangin,” Mallorca said.

The passengers, composed of children and adults, tried to re-float the pump boat to survive, however, Hsiang got lost while everyone panicked.

“Wala na makita ang usa nila ka kauban nga Taiwanese ug wala sad ta kabalo kung kamao ba molangoy siya or basin nadala ra gyud to sa kakusog sa hangin kay iyang ubang kauban naluwas man,” he added.

Pump boat operator, Jupiter D. Flores, 42, a resident of Barangay Okoy, Santa Fe, still decided to cross the waters even if the weather condition was not good. He reportedly also failed to warn the tourists about the bad weather.

“Sabagay kabalo pud ang operator nga kusog ang balod ug kusog pud ang hangin wala nalang unta siya nipadayon og larga. Iya nalang unta gipasabot ang mga pasahero nga dili nalang mopadayon kay lain ang panahon,” Mallorca said.

The rescue team, composed of the Philippine Coast Guard and the local tourism office, arrived minutes after the victims had called for assistance.

Hsiang was immediately brought to the Bantayan District Hospital but was declared dead upon arrival.

“Actually, naa na sa operator sa bangka kay sila man kahibaw kung maayo ba ilabang ang bangka or dili,” Mallorca said.

The police are still conducting further investigation to determine who will be held liable for the incident.