2 boats sink in Quezon; 8 passengers rescued

LUCENA CITY –– At least eight boat passengers and fishermen were rescued from their vessels that sank in the waters of Quezon province at the height of Tropical Storm “Dante” (international name: Choi-Wan) Wednesday.

The Quezon police said a concerned citizen reported to the authorities about a sinking boat in Tayabas Bay near the shore of General Luna town around 1 p.m.

A rescue group rushed to the site and saved four boat passengers, all unharmed and identified as boat owner Ferdinand Peñaredonda and passengers Nicanor Pasion, Renato Peñaredonda, and Domingo Paz.

The report did not state the boat’s destination when it sank.

In San Andres town, a motorized fishing boat with four fisherfolk on board also sank near the shore of Barangay Talisay that faces Ragay Gulf around 1:25 p.m.

The fishermen — Lorenzo Garbo, Robert Lucero, Romart Lucero, and Kent Laguartilla — were heading to shore when strong winds battered their boat, causing the vessel to sink.

The four fishers managed to swim close to shore and were saved by rescuers.

LZB