The Tubbataha Reef National Park in Palawan is one of the country’s protected areas. It saw a drastic drop in human activity and tourism earnings because of the pandemic, but its marine life got a chance to flourish. (GREGG YAN/CONTRIBUTOR)
MANILA, Philippines — Twenty eight persons were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) while four others remain missing after a dive boat sank in the vicinity of Tubbataha Reef in Palawan.
“As of this report, 28 people have been rescued, while four people remain missing,” the PCG said in a statement.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said the dive boat had a total of 32 passengers – 15 crew members, 12 passenger – guests and five dive masters.
Balilo said the MY Dream Keeper departed from San Remegio, Cebu on April 27 and was supposed to arrive at Tubbataha Reef on April 29.
The PCG, in a social media post, said the vessel arrived at Tubbataha Reef at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday
The PCG command center, however, received information regarding the sinking of the vessel on Sunday at around 6:49 a.m., and promptly dispatched BRP Melchora Aquino for search and rescue operations.
PCG – Palawan District Commander Dennis Labay said he has yet to confirm the cause of sinking but said initial reports from Coast Guard personnel assigned at the TRNP ranger station said the yacht was hit by a squall or sudden surge of rain and violent winds Saturday night.
“Squall is a weather phenomena that cannot be detected and we have no warning from Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) about this,” Labay said in a text message.
Balilo said four Chinese nationals were among the passengers of the sunken dive boat.
He has yet to confirm the nationalities of other passengers and if the four Chinese nationals were among those rescued. With a report from Geraldford Ticke / INQUIRER Southern Luzon