LEGAZPI CITY, June 4 (PNA) - Rescuers today recovered 19 passengers including the boat operator, who were reported missing when their motorized outrigger boat was swept away by big waves on Tuesday (June 2) off Catanduanes.
Elson Hermogino, Captain, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Bikol, said rescuers found the 19 passengers safe and they are now in the custody of a village official in Barangay Cabugao, Bato town in Catanduanes.
Report said one of the 19 sent a distress text message saying that their boat experienced engine trouble around 6 p.m. Tuesday due to wet spark plugs while they were en route to Rapu-rapu, Albay from Bato, Catanduanes.
While the engine was being fixed, the boat was swept by strong waves towards the waters of Gigmoto facing the Pacific Ocean, and the passengers were afloat for almost two days, the report said.
After the engine was fixed around 11:15 a.m. Thursday, the crew with 17 passengers returned to Barangay Cabugao, Bato, Catanduanes.
The survivors were taken to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center in Virac town in Catanduanes for medical treatment.
The Coast Guard said 17 of the passengers were native of Rapu-rapu and were farmers and abaca strippers who were hired to stripe abaca in Binanuahan Bata, Catanduanes. They were on their way home to Rapu-rapu, an island town in Albay when the mishap happened. (PNA)