Another body seen near last location of missing yacht

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said that another body was found floating off the waters of Northern Luzon where a yacht with four tourists and a Filipino was reported missing.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said this brought to two the number of bodies spotted in an aerial search conducted by Hong Kong’s maritime rescue coordinating center.

The first one was sighted at around 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

The bodies have yet to be retrieved to determine whether they were among the occupants of the missing M/Y Europa from Hong Kong.

On board the yacht were Britons Robin Wyatt and Brian Turner, Canadian Harry Taylor, American Alan Lundy and Rudulph Balloloz, a Filipino.

The Europa, described to have a dark blue hull with two sails and two small life rafts, is reportedly owned by Wyatt.

As of Wednesday, the bodies were located 220 nautical miles west of Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

Also seen in the area were debris from a still unidentified sea craft and oil slick.

Hong Kong officials have reportedly sent vessels to inspect the site while the Philippine Navy dispatched a patrol boat based in Bolinao, Pangasinan on Wednesday morning.

A PCG official, who requested anonymity, said the sea conditions in the area was rough and they do not know when the rescue teams would arrive at the site, which is technically outside the Philippine area of responsibility. 

“The two countries are coordinating for a search and rescue operation,” the source said.

The yacht’s last location was established when its emergency beacon was activated. The yacht left Clear Water Bay on Oct. 2 for Vigan in Ilocos Sur.