ZAMBOANGA CITY — Nine people, including six children, were rescued while drifting off Basilan province amid the inclement weather condition, the Coast Guard reported Saturday.
Lieutenant Commander (LCdr.) Alvin Dagalea, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said they were rescued around 12 noon Friday by a motorboat named Superfadz skippered by Najer Saabdullah of Barangay Tampalan, Isabela City, Basilan.
Dagalea said Saabdullah was sailing to Isabela City when the latter spotted the victims drifting near Baluk-Baluk Island, Hadji Muhtamad municipality.
Investigation showed the victims departed Dasalan Island, Hadji Muhtamad aboard F/B Jolina en route to Isabela City at around 8 a.m. Friday.
They revealed that F/B Jolina capsized around 10 a.m. after they were battered by big waves coupled with strong winds.
The victims managed to stay together while drifting at sea until Saabdullah rescued them.
They arrived at the port of Isabela City around 4 p.m. and immediately proceeded to the Coast Guard sub-station, where the personnel coordinated with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and brought the rescued victims to the hospital for medical check-up.
The Zamboanga Coast Guard Station has suspended boat trips to the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi from this city due to rough seas spawned by inclement weather condition.
This region had been experiencing inclement weather due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the entry of Typhoon Paolo into the country. (PNA)
