Search ongoing for 4 missing PCG personnel

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MANILA, Philippines — The search and rescue operations continue for the four missing Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel who were helping victims of Typhoon Egay when their boat capsized in Cagayan.

“Ongoing pa din po ang rescue efforts natin [Our rescue efforts continue],” PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said in a press briefing on Friday.

Abu also said that the PCG augmented the search and rescue team in the area, but they have yet to deploy air assets due to inclement weather.

“Nagpadala rin ako ng asset natin from Manila na search and rescue team,” Abu said.

(I ordered the deployment of search and rescue team from Manila.)

“The air assets of the Coast Guards are here in Manila. They are on standby, ready to fly, pero pagmasama ang panahon (but when the weather is not good), of course…” he added.

The boat capsized off the waters of Abulug, Cagayan at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

The missing PCG crew were supposed to rescue the crew of M/Tug (tugboat) Iroquois 21 nautical miles away from Aparri.

On Wednesday, parts of Cagayan were experiencing storm-force winds under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 while a gale warning was also raised by state meteorologists in the area while the rescuers were trying to cross the waters of Aparri.

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4 PCG members in Cagayan rescue ops missing after boat overturns

JPV