Crewmember dies as boat sinks off Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines —A crewmember died while two others were reported missing when a fishing boat capsized in the waters off this city on Sunday.

Police identified the fatality as Liberator Butad, and the missing crewmembers as Virgilio Eupena, 63, and Edgar Corales, 50.

Fifteen others including boat captain Jobe Escalante were rescued by the crewmembers of another boat that was passing through the area.

The F/B Jayson-7, which had 18 people on board, was sailing near the coast of Barangay Labuan at around 9 a.m. when it was battered by strong winds and big waves, according to Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City police chief.

The boat was reportedly headed to Pangutaran Island in Sulu for a fishing expedition.

A search and rescue operation was launched for the missing crewmembers, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.