One dead, ten missing after sand carrier capsizes off Occidental Mindoro, Philippines

One person is confirmed dead while ten others are unaccounted for after a commercial vessel capsized off Occidental Mindoro province in the Philippines on Tuesday, April 15.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the sand carrier Hong Hai 16, which had both Filipino and Chinese crewmembers, overturned in moderate sea conditions off Occidental Mindoro's Rizal municipality at around 17:20 on Tuesday.

The coast guard first learned of the incident after it was reported by Rizal's local sea patrol organisation. Search and rescue (SAR) and environmental monitoring personnel were then immediately deployed to the area.

Of Hong Hai 16's 25-strong crew, 14 were safely rescued while one Chinese national was found dead in the surrounding waters.

The ten missing crewmembers have been identified as seven Filipino and three Chinese nationals. The survivors meanwhile included six Filipinos and eight Chinese.

As of the morning of Wednesday, April 16, coast guard personnel were still in the area conducting SAR operations to attempt to locate the ten missing crewmembers.

The coast guard also said it is ready to deploy oil spill containment booms around the capsized vessel if needed.