Seven people who were earlier reported missing after two small passenger boats capsized in bad weather off Palawan on Wednesday were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard Friday.
The boats were ferrying local residents of tiny islands around the municipality of Araceli in the Sulu Sea when they separately ran into strong winds in the same area on Wednesday, the Araceli police chief told AFP.
The four people on board one of the outrigger boats were rescued unharmed on Thursday, while those on the second vessel were reported missing, police Captain Orland Sagaro said.
“There was no storm but the northeast monsoons are quite strong in these parts. They likely took in water before they flipped over,” he added.
The navy, coast guard, and rescuers from the municipal government took part in the search for the second vessel and its seven passengers and crew, Sagaro said.
“Latest info from the PCG District Palawan, BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) crew already found the seven individuals,” PCG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said in a text message to Manila Standard.
Sea accidents are frequent in the Philippines, a storm-struck Asian archipelago of more than 7,000 islands with poorly regulated domestic shipping. With AFP