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10 people rescued drifting at sea in Tawi-Tawi

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

December 26, 2022, 3:34 pm

<p><strong>RESCUED.</strong> Two foreign cargo vessels rescue 10 people -- eight Malaysians and two Filipinos -- drifting at sea Saturday (Dec. 24, 2022) in Tawi-Tawi province. The crew of the two foreign vessels--Liberia flagged and Panama-flagged--turned over the rescued individuals to the Naval Task Group (NTG)-Tawi-Tawi for proper disposition. <em>(Photo courtesy of NTG-Tawi-Tawi)</em></p>

RESCUED. Two foreign cargo vessels rescue 10 people -- eight Malaysians and two Filipinos -- drifting at sea Saturday (Dec. 24, 2022) in Tawi-Tawi province. The crew of the two foreign vessels--Liberia flagged and Panama-flagged--turned over the rescued individuals to the Naval Task Group (NTG)-Tawi-Tawi for proper disposition. (Photo courtesy of NTG-Tawi-Tawi)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Ten people -- eight Malaysians and two Filipinos -- were rescued drifting at sea in Tawi-Tawi province by two foreign cargo vessels as the watercraft they were riding encountered mechanical trouble amid inclement weather, a top military official said Monday.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio, commander of the Naval Task Group (NTG)-Tawi-Tawi and Joint Task Force (JTF)-Tawi-Tawi, said the eight Malaysians and two Filipinos were rescued Saturday by Falcon Triumph, a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, and High Adventure, a Panama-flagged tanker while traversing along the Tawi-Tawi waters.

The crew of Falcon Triumph radioed the Naval Forces Western Mindanao’s Littoral Monitoring Station (LMS)-Bongao informing they have sighted and rescued four people aboard a life raft.

The crewmen of High Adventure also reported to LMS-Bongao that they saw and rescued six people overboard at their vessel’s port beam while navigating in Tawi-Tawi waters toward their destination.

The crew of the two foreign vessels turned over the 10 rescued individuals to the NTG-Tawi-Tawi, who provided them assistance.

Racadio said investigation showed the eight Malaysians were crew and passengers of M/V Belait Surita that drifted at sea after they encountered a pipe explosion while traveling from Sandakan City, Malaysia to Talabtab, Malaysia. One crew member of the vessel was reported missing.

Racadio said the two Filipinos were aboard a motorboat that was battered by inclement weather after they departed Tahaw Island, Languyan, to Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi.

“The motor banca encountered weather challenges during its voyage,” he added.

The NTF-Tawi-Tawi coordinated with their Malaysian counterpart to fetch their rescued countrymen. (PNA)

 

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