Coast Guard still looking for 14 Myanmar nationals

Authorities have yet to find the 14 Myanmar nationals who went missing after their ship sank in Pangasinan Saturday, initial reports from rescue teams showed.

Melchito Castro, director of the Office of Civil Defense Ilocos, said the Coast Guard made an aerial survey Monday morning but did not find the missing passengers.

“The Coast Guard conducted the aerial survey about 8 a.m., hoping that they can still locate the survivors. When they returned, based on their assessment, terminated the operation as of 12:30 this afternoon,” Casto said.

“Based on the assessment of the pilot of the Philippine Coast Guard, they did not see survivots although they saw fishing boats, about 20 of them. There were also vessels plying north and south,” he added.

Castro said all the missing persons are Myanmar nationals. The identities of the missing persons remain unavailable.

“No one among the survivors speaks English so we even called up the Department of Foreign Affairs so that they can help us,” he said.

On Saturday, Myanmar flag vessel MV Harita Bauxite sank after experiecing engine trouble in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

The ship, which is manned by 24 crew members, was located 10.8 nautical milies off Cape Bolinao.

Nine crew members were rescued namely Kyi Win, 56, Khin Win, 34, Aung Khine, 38, Aung Nyein, 29, Win Saw, 40, Win Min Thein, 30, Aung San Win, 38, Thant Moe, 29, and Cho Aye, 53.

One crew member, identified as Myint Aung, 54 died of drowning.

Castro said traces of oil were found in the area where the vessel sank.

“The Coast Guard will implement its oil spill contingency plan and they have deployed personnel,” he said.

Castro said the oil leak affected about 10 nautical miles within the shoreline.

The survivors have been transported from Sual to La Union. Two of the survivors were wounded and are now receiving medical treatment.

Philippine authorities are now coordinating with the Myanmar embassy for the processing of the survivors’ papers. – Alexis Romero