7 fishermen rescued off Southern Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines–Seven fishermen from Surigao City were rescued from the waters off San Francisco town, Southern Leyte on Wednesday afternoon after their fishing boat capsized due to strong winds and big waves spawned by tropical depression “Falcon.”

They were identified as Nestor Coralil,55; Albert Saluta,38; Roy Contreras, Roy Aulagan,37; Ronnie Ababon,31; Joseph Mapalo,30; and Noel Angub,55, owner of the unregistered motorboat.

Seaman First Gil Angelo Cabading of the Coast Guard in Maasin City, also in Southern Leyte, said that the fishermen departed from their village of San Juan, Surigao City about 2 a.m. on Wednesday.

“But around 4 a.m., while they were at the Limasawa waters, they encountered big waves and strong winds due to Falcon. This caused the motorboat to capsize,” Cabading, in a phone interview, told the Inquirer.

He said the fishermen managed to remain afloat by holding on to floating empty containers.

They later drifted to the waters between Barangay Marayag and Pinamudlan, also in San Francisco around 3 p.m., Cabading added.

“They were found in the water, swimming about 50 meters from the coastline by the locals, who rescued them,” he said.

With the help of San Francisco disaster risk reduction management office, the seven fishermen were brought to the town’s rural health unit for medical checkup.

All were said to be in good condition although exhausted and hungry.

They would be returned to their hometown once they had recovered.