5 tourists drown in Philippines

Three Taiwanese tourists and two Filipinos drowned Wednesday in separate accidents off the Philippines' most popular resort island of Boracay, the coast guard said, according to DPA. The accidents occurred in the waters off Boracay Island, 360 kilometres south of Manila, as tropical storm Gaemi caused choppy seas and heavy rains in the northern and central Philippines. The Taiwanese victims, among them a 2-year-old child, drowned when the boat they were riding in overturned after being battered by strong waves, coast guard officer Ronnie Hiponia said. Twenty-seven other Taiwanese tourists were rescued from the accident, he added. Earlier in the day, two Filipinos drowned and four were rescued when they were swept away by strong currents while swimming, Hiponia said. Boracay, famous for its white sand beaches, is a favourite destination for foreign and local tourists in the Philippines.