MAASIN CITY, Philippines—Eleven persons, including five foreigners, were rescued by the crew of two fishing vessels several hours after their boat capsized at 8 a.m. Tuesday off Limasawa, Southern Leyte, at the height of Tropical Depression "Urduja."

Maasin Philippine Coast Guard master Chief Petty Officer Manolito Dancel on Wednesday said the motor banca, MBCA Lady Coco, left Guindulman, Bohol, for a diving expedition at Limasawa at around 3:30 a.m Tuesday.

The motor banca capsized at around 8 a.m. Tuesday off Limasawa when one of its outriggers broke due to the huge waves, Dancel said.

Dancel identified those rescued as Thomas Burgi of Switzerland; Gabi Girr, Marcus Offerman, Patrick Fehrenz and Corrine Fehrenz, all of Germany; and Filipino crewmembers Reynaldo Rosales, Gabriel Nialan, Emmanuel Olayvar, Jasper Olayvar, Daniel Logronio and Dennis Olayvar.

When the boat capsized, the six crewmembers and five divers managed to board the rubber boat but its outboard motor fell off due to the big waves, he said.

Dancel added that the victims were rescued more than five hours later at around 1:30 p.m. when the crew of two fishing boats saw them floating at sea and brought them to Barangay Magallanes in Limasawa under the care of village chief Ronnel Gabriel.

He also said he could not say why the motor banca was allowed to sail when there was a tropical depression. He explained that the regulations only allowed vessels of more than 1,000 gross tonnage to sail whenever Storm Signal No. 1 is raised in the vessel’s point of origin, route and destination.

However, Dancel clarified that the Coastguard did not have a station in Guindolman.

He also disclosed that at least 253 passengers, six cargo vessels and 26 vehicles remained stranded in Hilongos, Bato and Liloan ports.

Six vessels with destination in Leyte took shelter in Ubay, Pitogo, and Pres. Garcia towns in Bohol and in Labogon in Mandaue City.

Meanwhile, in Liloan, Southern Leyte, 52 families were evacuated to Guintoylan village hall after a landslide hit in the area at around 8:00 in the morning of Tuesday, Liloan Mayor Sherlita Chiong said in a text message sent on Wednesday.

No one was reported hurt, Chiong said.