22 Chinese nationals rescued off Boracay

A total of 22 Chinese nationals were rescued on Sunday after their banca sank off Boracay island in Central Philippines. Reports reaching the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters in Manila said that motor banca Edelyn sank after hitting a rock near Crystal Cove in Barangay Manoc-Manoc in Boracay, Aklan at about 12:35 p.m. Members of the Coast Guard Detachment Boracay rushed to the area on board a rubber boat upon receiving a telephone call regarding the situation of Edelyn. Other motor bancas on standby within the vicinity were able to rescue the passengers of the troubled sea vessel. No one was hurt among the rescued passengers. This, as state weather forecasters warned fishers particularly in North Luzon against winds and waves that could be brought by departing cyclone “Pepeng" (international name Parma). In its 5 p.m. gale warning, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) said waves would be moderate to rough at the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon and western seaboard of Central Luzon. "Fishing boats and other small seacraft are alerted against moderate waves," it said. Pagasa said the wind force in these areas would be 33 to 52 kph (18 to 28 knots), with the sea conditions being "moderate to rough." Wave heights in these seaboards may range from 1.75 to 3.4 meters, it added. "Pepeng" left Philippine territory Saturday night after making three landfalls and devastating Northern Luzon. It left more than 200 people dead mostly due to landslides. - GMANews.TV