The search for three Aetas, including two children, continued on Friday, a day after a boat carrying members of an indigenous community capsized in Mapanuepe Lake in San Marcelino town, killing six people.
The missing passengers are a 26-year-old pregnant woman and two children, ages 3 and 8. They were among 13 passengers aboard the boat that capsized at about 2 p.m. on Thursday near the Sunken Church in Barangay Buhawen.
The passengers were returning to their community in Sitio (subvillage) Lumibao after attending a government vaccination program and a meeting under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) when the boat encountered strong winds and rough lake conditions. Four passengers survived the incident.
Euphraim Jayson Diciano, head of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Zambales, said personnel from the PCG Special Operations Group were expected to conduct an underwater search for the three missing passengers.
Municipal disaster response personnel, police, the PCG and other responding agencies continued search and recovery operations on Friday despite heavy rains in the province.
The six fatalities were identified as Elvis Tiglao Pabalan, 33; Joanavie Mae Tiglao Pabalan; Sally Serrano Dela Cruz, 29; Prince Lenard Serrano Dela Cruz, 1; Evelyn Yurik Lagman, 45; and Cedric Serrano Liwanag, 2.
The four survivors were identified as Rebecca Paana Sulit, 39; Palit Liwanag, 32; Julian Pabalan Balario; and Marqie Paanan Balario.
The passengers were members of the Aeta community in Sitio Lumibao, located across Mapanuepe Lake from the main part of Barangay Buhawen.
Residents of the sitio rely on boats to cross the lake to reach the barangay proper, where they access government services and other facilities.
Isolated
The tragedy came as continuing rains further isolated other Aeta residents in San Marcelino.
Around 800 residents on the northern side of the river in Barangay Sta. Fe have remained isolated since Aug. 9 after floodwaters damaged a portion of a dike and swept away a bridge.
The damaged dike sustained further damage on Friday as a swollen river pushed floodwaters into nearby communities. A house collapsed after being hit by strong currents, although the family living there was able to evacuate, according to the San Marcelino Public Information Office.
Floodwaters also entered government buildings and a school, while water levels nearly reached a temporary footbridge being built in the area.
The municipal government postponed its scheduled relief operations because strong river currents made it unsafe for vehicles to cross.
Local officials continued to monitor the affected communities as heavy rains persisted, while rescuers pressed on with the search for the three missing Aetas.