4 die in Mercraft III sea mishap; 190 rescued

Coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo shows a file photo of passenger vessel Mercraft 3 as he talks to reporters in Manila, Philippines on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Philippine officials say coast guard officials and fishermen are trying to rescue more than 200 people on an inter-island ferry which is sinking off a northeastern province. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

At least four people died and more than 190 were rescued after a passenger vessel capsized off Quezon province on Thursday.

A report from Calabarzon Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said two males and two females who died were brought to Claro M. Recto District Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Thursday evening that seven persons were reported missing in the sea mishap.

The 199 rescued passengers were either brought to the same hospital if they were injured and to a temporary shelter area in Barangay Dinahican Multipurpose Center.

The passenger vessel Mercraft III, which was sailing from the port of Real, Quezon, was on its way to Polillo Island in the same province when it capsized near Barangay Dinahican in Infanta past 11 a.m.

The vessel with a capacity of 286 passengers had 251 passengers onboard.

The rescue operations were hampered by bad weather caused by Tropical Storm Vinta. With a report from Julius N. Leonen