Report: RP, Taiwan coast guards rescue 12 from sea mishap

Philippine and Taiwan Coast Guard operatives rescued on Thursday at least 12 crewmembers of a Panamanian cargo vessel that was feared to have sunk at the Philippine-Taiwan border. Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo cited initial reports reaching Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo that the two coast guards also recovered the body of a crewman of the vessel. The sketchy reports indicated the crewmembers had abandoned the Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel after it encountered big waves brought by typhoon “Katring" (international name: Chaba) on Wednesday. Crewmembers of the ill-fated vessel had abandoned it at the boundary of Philippine and Taiwan waters, the report said. On the other hand, Tamayo said search-and-rescue operations are still ongoing. He has alerted ships passing near Batanes and Extreme Northern Luzon to help rescue other crewmembers of the cargo vessel. –VVP, GMANews.TV