PCG: 6 individuals rescued from half-sunken boat off Sulu's coast
(Photo: Philippine Coast Guard)
A motorboat carrying six individuals sank off the coast of Sulu, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) disclosed Saturday, Aug. 9.
All six individuals aboard "MBCA Shiela Mae", including its boat captain, were rescued by responders from Coast Guard Station (CGS) Western Sulu after the vessel submerged in the vicinity waters of the municipality of Panglima Tahil last Aug. 4.
Based on the initial investigation, MBCA Shiela Mae came from Jolo Port and was on its way to Teomabal Island in Maimbung, Sulu when it sank. The cause of sinking is yet to be determined.
A female passenger managed to call her relatives and asked for help, and the incident was reported to the CGS Western Sulu at 7:37 p.m.
Search and rescue personnel were immediately deployed by the CGS Western Sulu and the half-submerged boat was located at 8:05 p.m.
Rescue operation immediately followed. Four of the six passengers were rescued first and transferred to another motorboat, MBCA Shaneer.
The remaining two passengers were saved as MBCA Shiela Mae was towed to Jolo Port at 9:15 p.m.
All rescued individuals, including the boat captain, received medical attention and were turned over to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO)-Sulu.