By Ben Serrano,
Correspondent
BUTUAN City — One young female passenger drowned while 68 other passengers and crew when big waves capsized the Marina registered MVCA J-A passenger pumpboat enroute from this city to Magallanes, Agusan del Norte on Saturday.
President of Magallanes-Butuan Pumpboat Association, Merlina Alvarez and Jesnar Dazas, Station Commander of Philippine Coastguard Butuan City office identified the lone fatality victim as Cindy Villanueva, 15, resident of Barangay Sto. Niño, Magallanes town.
A total of 68 other passengers including the three crew of the pumpboat were rescued by the combined efforts of National Police’s Maritime Unit, rescuers from Bureau of Fire Protection and Butuan City Coastguard.
Rescuers claimed that when huge waves from the open sea fronting Magallanes town in Agusan del Norte hit the boat, the passengers panicked causing the motor boat to tip over and capsize.
Magallanes Police said they are still investigating the incident.
The Magallanes-Butuan passenger boat route passes Agusan Rio Grande River in Butuan City then on to the open sea when it reached Magallanes which is just lee than an hour river-sea travel.
Magallanes town can also be reached by land passing Cabadbaran City also in Agusan del Norte and about 35 kilometers distance by land travel.
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