8 rescued from sinking pump boat off Surigao City

BUTUAN CITY - Eight passengers were rescued after their pump boat began sinking off the coast of Surigao City on Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard in Surigao del Norte (PCG-SDN) said. In a statement Thursday, the PCG-SDN said the pump boat, MBCA Enossian, left Barangay San Juan in Surigao City at around 6 a.m. en route to Basilisa town in the Dinagat Islands. However, by 7 a.m., the boat encountered massive waves between Basul and Hikdop Islands, causing it to capsize. One of the passengers, Uanice Cacao Dipon, streamed the incident live on Facebook, calling for help. The passengers clung to the sinking boat as waves battered the vessel. Six passengers were rescued by a passing pump boat, while the remaining two were saved by the PCG, which later towed the vessel back to Surigao City. Source: Philippines News agency