2nd October 2023 – (Manila) Tragedy struck off the coast of Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines as a fishing boat capsized, resulting in the drowning of one fisherman, while two others remain missing. Local authorities confirmed the incident on Monday and provided details of the harrowing event.
According to Police Colonel Alexander Lorenzo, the chief of the Zamboanga City police, the ill-fated fishing boat departed from the city’s port at approximately 5 p.m. local time on Saturday. Its destination was a remote island in Sulu province, where the crew intended to embark on a fishing venture. However, as the boat sailed through the waters along the city’s west coast, it encountered treacherous waves late on Saturday night, leading to its tragic sinking.
The dire situation came to light on Sunday morning when a passing fishing vessel spotted the distressed boat and promptly initiated a rescue operation. Thankfully, 15 individuals were successfully saved from the perilous waters.
Despite the rescue efforts, two male crew members, aged 50 and 63, remain unaccounted for. Authorities have launched an extensive search operation to locate the missing individuals, hoping for a swift and safe recovery.