Boat sinks in Cagayan; passengers, crew rescued

The Philippine Coast Guard deploys a team to rescue seven people from a boat that sank in Aparri, Cagayan on March 29, 2019. PHOTO from the Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines — Seven people were rescued after a boat en route to Aparri from Camiguin Island sank in the Cagayan River, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Monday.

A search and rescue team, composed of personnel from the Coast Guard Station Cagayan, Coast Guard Medical Clinic-North Eastern Luzon, and Special Operation Unit-NELZN, was immediately sent to the area after a report of the incident was received on March 29.

Six passengers identified as Alma Grace Duerme, 31;  Lenie Erece, 24; Levie Erece, 23; Jessabelle Calanoga;  Janin Abuyuan; and an unnamed four-year-old child were rescued.

The owner of the boat, Mark Joseph Jojo Sambajon, 38; was also rescued.

Initial investigation showed that the group left Camiguin Island for Aparri around 8:20 a.m.

Upon reaching the mouth of the Cagayan River in Barangay Punta in Aparri, the boat reportedly started to encounter big waves, causing it to sink. /ee