10 people rescued off Tawi-Tawi sea

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Naval Forces Western Mindanao reported that at least 10 people were rescued — eight Malaysians and two Filipinos — while another was reported missing after their vessel and a motorized pump boat partially sunk along the Philippine-Malaysia sea border.

NFWM acting commander Captain Dwight Steven Dulnoan said that the vessel — identified as M/V Belait Surita — was traversing near the Philippine border when it encountered a pipe explosion on Saturday.

Dulnoan said that the M/V Belait Surita came from Sandakan, Malaysia and was heading to Talabtab, Malaysia when it encountered a pipe explosion.

On the same day, a motorized Banca also encountered weather challenges during its voyage from Tahaw Island, Tawi-Tawi to Bongao, the province's capital town, and sunk near the border.

Accoridng to Dulnoan, the Littoral Mission Ship stationed in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Bongao received a radio message on Saturday from Liberia-flagged M/V Falcon Triumph, a  bulk carrier informing LMS that they sighted four individuals onboard one life raft  while they were traversing along the Tawi-Tawi waters.

He added that a Panama-flagged tanker M/T High Adventure  also reported to the LMS that they sighted six individuals in the same area.

Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi immediately sent a Navy fast craft to the reported site to conduct a rescue operation.

The Navy rescue team continued its search and rescue operation for few hours in the vicinity, but failed to find the missing crew.