A Taiwanese tourist is dead after his boat capsized in the Philippines
TAIPEI, Taiwan — A Taiwanese tourist has reportedly drowned in the Philippines after the boat he was on capsized.
▲圖/翻攝自中國郵報
The man, identified as Chen Su-Hsiang, 63, was among a group of Taiwanese visitors aboard the boat when it was flipped by strong waves in waters off the popular tourist island Cebu, according to the International Business Times.
Twelve other people also ended up in the water but survived, police said, adding that the boat had been heading out to sea when it capsized.
"A rescue team was sent by the nearby police detachment to the shore to save the 12 passengers that included children and the motor boat operator," investigator Albert Jimene was quoted as saying.
The Philippines have long been a popular destination for Taiwanese tourists, and visitor numbers have continued increasing.
Taiwan was the sixth largest source of foreign travelers to the Philippines in the first five months of this year, the Central News Agency reported.
The figure was 108,643 arrivals, up 20 percent from the same period last year.
Meanwhile, 170,000 Philippine passport holders visited Taiwan in 2016, up from 130,000 in 2015.