The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) launched a search and rescue operation after a sand carrier vessel capsized in the waters off Rizal, Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, resulting in one death and ten missing crew members.
Initial visual assessment shows that the vessel remains upright but is partially submerged, with the possibility of personnel trapped in the engine room. It reportedly capsized amid moderate sea conditions.
With this, search and rescue operations are ongoing, including underwater assessments, and preparations for diving and cutting operations by the Coast Guard Special Operations Group Southern Tagalog.
The vessel reportedly had a total crew of 25 members—13 Filipinos and 12 Chinese. Fourteen have survived, including six Filipinos and eight Chinese, while one Chinese national was recovered lifeless.
Furthermore, the search continues for ten missing individuals—seven of whom are Filipinos and three are Chinese.
The operation began when Coast Guard Sub-Station San Jose received a call from Bantay Dagat Rizal reporting the maritime incident.
PCG personnel from CGSS San Jose, the Special Operations Unit, and the Marine Environmental Protection Enforcement Response Group quickly mobilized their Deployable Response Group teams to the scene.
To address a possible environmental threat, PCG personnel worked with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to prepare for the deployment of oil spill containment booms.
Concurrently, the PCG in Sablayan sent an additional team to assist in the ongoing operations.
