Motorboat sinks in Taal Lake; tour guide missing, 5 rescued

BATANGAS, Philippines – Coast Guard members and policemen continued to scour Taal Lake yesterday in search of a tour guide who went missing after a motorboat bearing tourists sank off Talisay town last Wednesday afternoon.

Senior Superintendent Rosauro Acio, Batangas police director, said efforts were still ongoing to locate tour guide Mario Austria, 55, a resident of Tagaytay City.

According to Acio, boat operator Gary Ross and tourists Razel Escoto, his wife Haidee and children Edzel, 9, and Thea, 6, of San Fernando, Pampanga, were rescued when their motorboat, M/B Soriano 3, capsized in the middle of Taal Lake.

Acio said the group was headed to Pulo Island from Talisay town when their boat was pummeled by strong waves, causing it to sink. The crew of another motorboat, M/B Korean Express, rescued them, minus Austria.

Rescuers rushed the survivors to the Talisay Municipal Hospital for medical checkup.