32 rescued after passenger boat sinks off southern Philippines

The Philippine Navy and Malaysian authorities successfully rescued all 32 passengers and crew of a small motor launch that sank off Tawi-Tawi province in the southern Philippines on Sunday, March 16.

The Singapore-flagged tanker Eonia first spotted the distressed motor launch Bangsata off Tawi-Tawi's Taganak Island near the maritime border with Malaysia and promptly reported the incident to Philippine authorities. This then enabled Naval Monitoring Station (NMS) Taganak and the navy patrol craft BRP Jose Loor Sr to initiate an immediate rescue mission.

NMS Taganak maintained continuous communication with the tanker to ensure proper coordination and determine the accurate location of the distressed launch.

Jose Loor Sr reached the motor launch's last reported position some 17 nautical miles southeast of Taganak Island at around 21:05 local time on Sunday.

The navy crews found 26 people holding on to debris and the partially submerged launch to remain afloat. These survivors were pulled out of the water and brought onto the patrol craft where they were given food, clothing, and medical assistance.

The six other survivors were rescued by a Malaysian vessel. The navy said coordination is ongoing between the Philippine and Malaysian authorities to facilitate the return of these six individuals.

Some of the survivors said that their boat sank due to rough seas just after 06:00 on Sunday and that they drifted in the water until they were finally rescued in the late evening.