INFANTA – The municipal council here has placed the town under a state of calamity as a result of the disaster that struck fishermen when their fishing boats capsized due to big waves in the south China sea last Friday and Saturday.

The municipal council, on recommendation of Mayor Ruperto Martinez, took the move even as 24 fishermen from Infanta are still missing in that big sea disaster.

The other fishermen affected in that disaster were from Agno, Dasol and Bolinao but Infanta had the most number of fishermen involved.

Infanta is the southernmost part of Pangasinan near the Zambales border facing the south China sea.

As of Friday, of the 123 fishermen from Infanta affected in that disaster, only 99 had so far been rescued and returned home. One of them was already confirmed dead by no less than his father who was among the survivors.

PO1 Dulce Mejos of the Infanta police identified the lone drowning victim so far as Alberto Pesodas Jr., 15, whose body has not yet been retrieved from the water.

As of 12 noon on Friday, the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) of the police and military here reported that the number of fishermen still missing from the four coastal towns stood at 40 while the survivors number 128.

Daisy Ofalsa, municipal social welfare officer of Infanta, said her office provided food stuffs to the families of the affected fishermen.

No money was given to them as her office had no cash for the purpose.

She said all the survivors were already discharged from the municipal clinic where they were brought immediately after their rescue, except for one who is still recuperating. (PNA)