Fisher declared missing, severed hands discovered

CEBU, Philippines - A fisherman has been reported missing and presumed dead when his hands were found yesterday following the explosion of an air compressor Thursday onboard a fishing boat berthed at barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City.

PO1 Carlos Barluado of the Homicide Section of the Lapu-Lapu City police said Eugenio Daño, 47, arrived in barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City at around 8 p.m. last Thursday from Pandanon Island together with five other fishermen.

He said Daño remained at the seashore to watch over the fishing boat which he had borrowed from his brother Tereso while his companions went home to their respective houses.

Yesterday morning, Tereso was looking for his brother, but what he found was his fishing boat which was floating 200 meters off the seashore and was wrecked.

Fishermen in the place joined the search but failed to find him.

What they found instead were his two hands and some equipment of the fishing boat.

Residents of the place said they heard a loud burst at around 11 p.m. last Thursday but ignored it thinking someone was fishing using dynamites.

 Police believed an overloaded air compressor caused the explosion.

An air compressor is used by fishermen for diving. (FREEMAN)