ILOILO City — A Chinese tourist died while three others were reported in critical condition after a boat capsized Tuesday at popular beach destination of Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Pablito, Malay town police chief, identified the fatality as Hongfang Kuai, a 45-year-old woman.
Three others were taken to a hospital in Kalibo, the capital of Aklan province.
Pablito said the wooden-hulled boat “Jocelyn 1”, which was carrying mostly Chinese tourists, was on its way back to Boracay’s shore near Station 2 before 12 noon when it encountered strong waves and capsized.
The Boracay sub-station of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) immediately responded to rescue 22 Chinese tourists, two Filipino tour guides, the boat’s captain, and the two other Filipino crew members.
This month, two other foreigners died while vacationing in Boracay. Both drowned while swimming.
Tuesday’s fatal incident came four months after seven rowers of Boracay’s dragon boat team died when their training boat capsized off the Boracay’s coast. (Tara Yap)
