Yacht missing with 2 Britons, American, Canadian, Filipino

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine coast guard says a yacht carrying two Britons, an American, a Canadian and a Filipino has gone missing while sailing from Hong Kong to the northwestern Philippines at about the time a storm was affecting the region last week.

Philippine coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said Tuesday that a search has been launched by Philippine and Hong Kong authorities for the yacht Europa, which left Hong Kong on Thursday and failed to arrive in Subic Bay northwest of Manila as expected over the weekend.

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club said an emergency position-indicating radio beacon on the boat was activated Saturday, indicating the vessel was experiencing difficulties.

A Hong Kong aircraft was dispatched and vessels in the area were alerted.