The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued 11 passengers from a motorbanca which ran aground and eventually sank off Surigao City on Saturday, July 23.
Motorbanca “Justin” had just departed from a floating resort in Brgy. Day-asan en route to Surigao City around 3:30 p.m. when it accidentally hit shallow waters.
“This incident caused the engine to malfunction, resulting in the shafting and dismantling of the propeller. Eventually, the motorbanca submerged,” the PCG reported on Sunday, July 23.
A concerned citizen reported the sighting to the PCG District Northeastern Mindanao (NEM) around 5 p.m.
Personnel and rubber boats from the Coast Guard Station Surigao del Norte and CG Special Operations Unit (CGSOU)-NEM were deployed to conduct search and rescue operation in the area around 9:30 p.m.
All the passengers of the sunken boat were eventually rescued and accounted for.
The passengers were brought to the boathouse of the CGSOU in Surigao City for an initial medical checkup. They were also given food before being released by the PCG personnel.