ZAMBOANGA CITY – A Panamanian cargo ship rescued six Filipinos from a capsized boat off the southern Philippine province of Sulu after strong winds and huge wave battered the ill-fated craft.
This was confirmed by the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, saying the boat, M/B Lorena, was heading to Zamboanga City on Feb. 17 when it capsized off Pangutaran Island.
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| Photos released by the Naval Forces Western Mindanao show the six Filipino passengers of a capsized boat cling to their life off the southern Philippine province of Sulu. |
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The passengers, five men and one woman, managed to cling on the side of the wooden boat when they were spotted by the cargo ship M/V Navios Lumen and rescued them.
“The motor banca was traveling from Mapun en route to Zamboanga City when it encountered rough seas and strong currents causing it to capsize while the Panama-flagged bulk carrier M/V Navios Lumen was also traversing the area. Upon sighting of the capsized motor banca with six persons holding to its side, M/V Navios Lumen immediately maneuvered to rescue the victims and render assistance,” said RADM Donn Anthony Miraflor, the navy commander.
He said the cargo ship reported the incident to the nearest authority - the littoral monitoring station in Pilas Island - and the Navy dispatched a patrol boat and fetched the rescued Filipinos later in the day. The Filipinos were fed by Navy personnel and eventually handed over to social workers in Tawi-Tawi province before sending them home.
“We are glad that the boatmen were safe and in good condition after the bulk carrier found them and handed them over to us. We are also glad that we can work promptly together with our friends from civilian vessels that transit our waters and with the aide of our LMS, to ensure every seafarer's safety especially during rough seas and bad weather,” Miraflor said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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