TACLOBAN (Philippines) May 11: At least 19 people, most of them children, drowned when a motor launch overturned in the waters of the central Philippines on Saturday afternoon, police reports said here.

The MV Melody was carrying people returning from a festival in the central town of Naval when some drunken passengers jumped off, panicking the rest of those on board, according to the police reports in this central city about 60 kilometres from the incident.

The frightened passengers rushed to one side of the boat, tilting the vessel and causing it to capsize, the report said.

Congressman Gerry Espina, who represents the area, said in a radio report that 41 people pulled from the waters were still in hospital while 43 other survivors were allowed to go home.

“We still don’t know how many were aboard,” the congressman said, complaining that the vessel only had a registered capacity of 30 people.

The coast guard and local fishermen are still searching the seas for possible survivors and victims.—AFP