5 Dead as Passenger Vessel Sinks Off Phillippines
An unregistered passenger vessel ‘MPB Wilayza’ sank offshore Phillippines on Thursday night, leaving 5 people dead.
According to media reports, the vessel sank between the islands of Pata and Tapul probably due to overloading with sacks of cement and iron bars.
Excluding crew, there were around 50 passengers on board the vessel when the incident happen.
The search and rescue team managed to save 14 people, including seven children, who after the rescue had to undergo medical treatment.
Several people are still missing and the search and rescue efforts are ongoing, local media reported.
The passengers on the vessel were mostly local residents from Talipao and Tapul in Sulu province of Phillippines.
