32 fishermen rescued off Pagasa Island

After being stranded for eight days, 32 fishermen and crew members of a fishing vessel that sank off the coast of Pag-asa Island of the Kalayaan Group of Islands were finally rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Friday evening.

Chinese maritime authorities earlier rescued 29 of the Filipino crew members of the fishing boat.

PCG spokesman Lt. Senior Grade Armand Balilo said the 18 fishermen and 14 crewmen of the F/B Vir-Anna 101 were rescued by the Coast Guard District in Palawan.

They were brought back to the PCG office in Palawan where they were given medical examinations.

The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) also handed some relief goods to the survivors. Each pack contained seven kilos of rice, seven cans of sardines, five cans of corned beef, two packs of powdered milk and a pack of coffee.

It appeared that the vessel left Metro Manila and began its voyage to the South China Sea last Nov. 15.

But they encountered storms during their journey and their ship ran aground. They then sought shelter near the Pagasa Island, where their vessel later sank.

Bad weather prevented the PCG search and rescue vessels from giving immediate assistance.