Six rescued from sunken motor banca off Basilan
Basilan map
MANILA, Philippines — Six people were rescued on Tuesday, February 28, after their motor banca submerged off Basilan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
According to the PCG, the vessel was en route to Zamboanga City from Jolo, Sulu, when it sank near Pandak Island in Hadji Muhtamad as big waves destroyed the motor banca’s hull.
“Immediately, the PCG deployed a search and rescue team that located the distressed motor banca [and] rescued the passengers,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.
It added that the rescued individuals were brought to a PCG substation in the town of Maluso for assistance.
The state weather bureau has raised a gale warning over several areas across the archipelago due to the northeast monsoon, locally called “amihan,” which is still triggering rains in Luzon and Visayas. — With reports from MJ Soriano, trainee
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