Coast guard rescues 32 stranded fishermen in Spratlys
12/01/2007 | 04:48 PM
Thirty-two Filipino fishermen were rescued after their boats sank due to rough weather off Pag-asa Island, Spratly Islands, on November 22, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday.
Lt. Senior Grade Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, 29 Filipino fishermen of the F/B Vir Anna 101 survived the ordeal.
A fisherman aboard F/B Arlou Khristina A, sister ship of F/B Vir-Anna 101, cheated death and two fishers of F/B Malou, sister ship of F/B Vir Anna 101, also survived.
Chinese maritime authorities earlier rescued 29 fishermen following the sinking of F/B Vir-Anna, F/B Arlou Khristina A and F/B Malou. They were brought to Pag-Asa Island, Kalayaan Group of Islands.
Balilo said typhoons Mina and Lando stalled the PCG search and rescue teams’ effort to get them from the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
“Using a helicopter, PCG personnel dropped food and medicine for the survivors while waiting for the rescue teams," said Balilo.
On Saturday, coastguardsmen finally fetched the fishermen from the island and rescued three more missing crewmen.
“The China Maritime Coordinating Center informed the Coast Guard Action Center about the incident around 10 p.m. of November 22 while the Vietnam Embassy in the Philippines alerted us for the search and rescue of nine fishermen spotted off the Kalayaan Island and as reported to Vietnam Maritime Center, the boats sank because of the bad weather," said Balilo. - GMANews.TV
Lt. Senior Grade Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, 29 Filipino fishermen of the F/B Vir Anna 101 survived the ordeal.
A fisherman aboard F/B Arlou Khristina A, sister ship of F/B Vir-Anna 101, cheated death and two fishers of F/B Malou, sister ship of F/B Vir Anna 101, also survived.
Chinese maritime authorities earlier rescued 29 fishermen following the sinking of F/B Vir-Anna, F/B Arlou Khristina A and F/B Malou. They were brought to Pag-Asa Island, Kalayaan Group of Islands.
Balilo said typhoons Mina and Lando stalled the PCG search and rescue teams’ effort to get them from the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
“Using a helicopter, PCG personnel dropped food and medicine for the survivors while waiting for the rescue teams," said Balilo.
On Saturday, coastguardsmen finally fetched the fishermen from the island and rescued three more missing crewmen.
“The China Maritime Coordinating Center informed the Coast Guard Action Center about the incident around 10 p.m. of November 22 while the Vietnam Embassy in the Philippines alerted us for the search and rescue of nine fishermen spotted off the Kalayaan Island and as reported to Vietnam Maritime Center, the boats sank because of the bad weather," said Balilo. - GMANews.TV
