It weakened over the island, but re-intensified rapidly to a 140 mph typhoon in the Sibuyan Sea before hitting Mindoro on the 17th.

After weakening to a tropical storm, Irma turned northward to hit western Luzon as a 95 mph typhoon on the 19th.

[4] On May 17, the 740 ton vessel Pioneer Cebu sailed directly into the storm over the Visayan Sea off the coast of Malapascua Island after ignoring warnings to remain at port.

[5][6] Rescue operations lasted nearly two days, with many of the survivors being stranded in shark infested waters for upwards of 40 hours.

"[6] A trading vessel, the Banca Alex, also sank off the coast of Cebu with 80 people aboard; 60 were later rescued while 20 others were never found.