Search and rescue operations are underway in the southern Philippines after a boat carrying 15 people, including divers and crew, capsized in waters off Davao Oriental, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and reported by local news outlet MindaNews.
Initial reports said the boat was carrying 11 divers, but an update on the SunStar Davao Facebook page and other social media posts suggests the boat had a total of 15 people on board, including the crew.
The incident has reportedly occurred in the Davao Gulf, a large body of water separating Davao Oriental, a coastal province on the eastern side of the island of Mindanao, from Davao Occidental.
The area is a popular destination for recreational diving but is prone to strong currents and rapidly changing conditions.
The Coast Guard said it was searching the southern portion of the gulf after receiving a mobile phone message from the divers indicating that their boat had overturned and that they were clinging to the hull.
Lei Brosas, of the Philippine Coast Guard operations in Davao City, said the search was being conducted by the Coast Guard vessel BRP Malamawi.
‘As of now, we are still searching the general area where we received a mobile phone message from the divers,’ Brosas told local news outlet MindaNews by phone.
Reports on the boat’s route conflict, but it appears that the motorised banca (a type of Filipino motor boat) Amejara left Santa Ana Wharf in Davao City at around 5.20pm en route to the town of Governor Generosa on Davao Oriental.
Sunstar Davao and the local Davao Updates community page also report that the vessel left port without proper clearance from the Coast Guard.
As of the latest update, there has been no official confirmation that any of the divers have been located or rescued, however, a Facebook post from a local fisherman who is monitoring the situation says they have been contacted, and are currently drifting in the waters of Malita, Davao Occidental.
This is a breaking news story and we will bring you updates as we receive them…
