10 passengers safe after boat accident off Masbate

NAGA CITY, Philippines–Ten persons were rescued when a motorboat sank off an island-village in Mandaon, Masbate early on Thursday.

The M/V Precious Nicole was on its way to Roxas City in Capiz from Aroroy town in Masbate when the boat, carrying passengers and cargo, started sinking after it reportedly hit an underwater object off the waters of Cagmasoso Island at around 3 a.m., said Inspector Chester Enriquez, chief of police of Mandaon.

As they clung to the sinking vessel, the 10 passengers and crew–two women and eight men–were rescued by a passing motorboat, Enriquez added.

The police and Coast Guard based in Calumpang village in neighboring Balud town helped in the rescue operation upon being notified of the incident, Enriquez added.

All rescued passengers were brought to the Balud Municipal Hospital for checkup and were deemed uninjured, according to Enriquez.

They were later brought to Guinbanwahan, a coastal village in the town proper of Balud, waiting for another boat which would take them to Roxas City on Panay Island, about 100 kilometers to the southwest.

Mandaon is on the western seaboard of Masbate, about 50 km west of provincial capital Masbate City.