20 rescued after passenger boat capsizes off Cagayan, Philippines

Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard successfully rescued all 20 passengers and crew of a small boat after it capsized and sank in the waters off Cagayan province in the northern Philippines on Thursday, November 23.

The banca-type vessel was underway off Cagayan’s Fuga Island at around 10:00 local time on Thursday when the crew detected damage on the hull, which resulted in water ingress.

The crew then sent out a distress call, prompting the coast guard and other local agencies to deploy search and rescue (SAR) teams to render assistance.

The boat was already partially submerged by the time the SAR teams arrived in the area at 12:40.

The vessel’s 11 passengers and nine crewmembers were all safely evacuated and brought ashore in the nearby town of Claveria to be assessed by awaiting medical personnel. No serious injuries have been reported.

The coast guard said the area was experiencing clear weather and calm seas when the incident occurred.