Coast Guard Station Surigao del Norte headed by the Station Commander CG CDR ELAINE R PANGILINAN promptly responded to a reported capsizing incident which successfully rescued 26 passengers and 3 crew members last Saturday, 24 July 2021.
Accordingly, at about 12:10 pm of 24 July 2021, Philippine Coast Guard Sub-Station Claver received an information from PSMS Jeff Felix a member of PNP-Maritime Group informing that an unidentified motorbanca was in distress and allegedly capsized at vicinity waters off Bucas Grande Island, Socorro, Surigao del Norte.
Upon receipt of the information, Coast Guard Sub-Station Claver together with PNP Maritime Group immediately proceeded to the reported location to conduct Search and Rescue (SAR) onboard Mbca Marian and subsequently followed by Mbca Zac Greggor.
Meanwhile, CG CDR. PANGILINAN likewise directed Coast Guard Sub-Station Socorro and Coast Guard Mobile Team Pamosaingan to also conduct SAR operation in their maritime jurisdiction while alerting other PCG units within the AOR of Surigao del Norte for possible sightings of the distressed motorbanca.
On the course of SAR operations, Coast Guard Sub-Station Soccoro received an information from a certain Ronito D Tiguis-Tiguis Brgy Chairman of Brgy. Doña Helene, Socorro, Surigao del Norte regarding the present location of the distressed motorbanca which instantly relayed to Coast Guard Sub-Station Claver.
At about 2:18pm of 24 July 2021, SAR Teams arrived and sighted the motorbanca which already capsized at vicinity waters off Kantico Pt. Brgy. Doña Helene, Socorro, Surigao del Norte. Thereafter, SAR Teams immediately rendered necessary assistance and safely transferred all the survivors to Mbca Zac Greggor enroute to Port of Hayanggabon while the ill-fated Mbca Emerald together with the crew members was towed enroute to Coast Guard Sub-Station Socorro for the conduct of initial inquiries relative to the incident.
Upon arrival to respective destinations, the crew members were formally invited to Coast Guard Sub-Station Socorro for further inquiries on how the incident transpired while BFP Claver, MDRRMO Carrascal, and MDRRMO Lanuza assessed the overall health condition of the rescued passengers at Port of Hayanggabon.
Luckily, all the survivors from the incident were in good physical health condition as they attested.
Per initial inquiries, the distressed motorbanca was identified as MBCA EMERALD owned and operated by a certain Jameson Esmeralda which departed Municipality of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur at about 9:00am of 24 July 2021 carrying 26 passengers and 3 crew members purposely for a swimming venture in line with their team building activity at Sohoton, Socorro, Surigao del Norte. While traversing towards their intended destination, they unexpectedly encountered a rough sea condition with huge waves and strong current that continuously battered the boat causing MBCA EMERALD to eventually capsized at vicinity waters in between Port of Hayanggabon and Light Station (LS) Dahakit, Socorro, Surigao del norte. All the passengers and crew members were clinging on the capsized boat while they were drifted towards vicinity waters near Kantico Pt. Brgy. Doña Helene, Socorro, Surigao del Norte. Fortunately, a passing motorbanca in the area initially responded and called the attention of Coast Guard Sub-Station for an immediate rescue assistance.
(Source: CoastGuard Surigao del Norte Facebook account)