8 Ilocos Sur fishermen missing

SAN FERNANDO CITY — Eight Ilocos Sur fishermen went missing in the South China Sea after their vessel was battered by seven-meter high waves believed spawned by abnormal weather conditions in Siberia.

Nigel Lontoc, director of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council based here, identified the missing fishermen as Sixto Tabigne, 51; Roger Tabigne, 41; Roderick Duran, 33; Manuel Fabro, 55; Lorenzo Tabucol, 20; Reginald Vite, 37; Ramon Tabucol, 18; and a certain Jason Tabul, all residents of Punta Verde, Poro, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.

The fishermen were reported missing last Monday morning after they failed to return home from fishing in the South China Sea.

The incident was not reported to the authorities until only the following day when a resident informed a staffer of a radio station in Vigan City about it.

Lontoc believes that the seven-meter high waves might be due to the sudden occurrence of a squall.

Waves as high as eight meters killed at least a hundred fishermen in the Ilocos region in January 2003.

"This (squall) phenomenon is the combination of warm and cold air from Siberia, which creates strong winds and big waves. This (weather condition) is expected until February next year," Lontoc said. — With Teddy Molina