2 fishermen missing in storm-swept waters off Catanduanes

Fisherman Renan Tabor was rescued off the coast of Baras town in Catanduanes on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.

LEGAZPI CITY – Authorities are looking for two fishermen who went missing after venturing out to sea late night Tuesday in Catanduanes, Claudio Yucot, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said Wednesday.

Yucot, quoting a report from the Bato town disaster council in Catanduanes, said search and rescue operations were ongoing for the fishermen identified as brothers Allan and Albert, both surnamed Pantino, of Barangay (village) Pinanaogan, Bato town.

Report said the two missing fishermen were among a group of fishermen who went fishing off the waters of Bato on board seven bancas at about 11:20 p.m.

The report said as the fishermen sailed, one of the small boats capsized due to strong waves but its passengers were rescued. Another boat that was carrying the Pantino brothers, however, went missing from the group.

Meanwhile, OCD report said flooding was reported on Tuesday in villages in the towns of Baao, Garchitorena, Balatan, Caramoan, Lagonoy and Iriga City, all in Camarines Sur.

In Camarines Norte, flooding and landslide were reported in the town of Labo and Mercedes. 13 families or 59 persons were evacuated to two evacuation centers. /cbb