Coast Guard rescues 23 from distressed boat in Tawi-Tawi

At least 23 people were rescued after their 99.23-ton motorboat ran aground off Tawi-Tawi province in Mindanao Thursday. The Coast Guard said Friday the ML Alfaibash ran aground half-submerged on shallow waters off Luuk Tulay in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi at 8:45 a.m. Thursday. Coast Guard personnel who rushed to the site rescued 12 passengers and 11 crew members. Investigation showed the ML Alfaibash was heading for Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi from Zamboanga City, when it encountered engine trouble some 1.5 nautical miles off Luuk Tulay, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. The boat drifted to the shallow waters due to rough seas and strong winds and eventually ran aground. The rescued passengers and crew members were brought to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi in good physical condition. — LBG, GMANews.TV