Ten rescued as tugboat sinks off Philippines coast amid rough seas

Ten crew members were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) after their tugboat sank off the coast of Botolan, Zambales. The vessel encountered extremely adverse maritime conditions and strong waves, making navigation difficult.

The PCG reported that the tugboat began to list progressively to its starboard side, critically losing stability as waves battered it. The situation escalated rapidly, and the vessel disappeared beneath the surface, settling on the seabed at an estimated depth of 24 meters. The ten crew members and support team were forced to abandon the ship.

Video footage of the crew jumping overboard went viral on social media. All ten individuals were rescued from the water and confirmed to be in good health with no serious injuries. A primary concern following the sinking is the 15,000 liters of fuel the tugboat was carrying. While initial reports suggest the fuel tank remained intact, a strict surveillance protocol is in place to prevent an ecological disaster.

Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the sinking. The PCG spokesperson, Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, stated that they are examining the possibility that the vessel's hull struck submerged metal debris, possibly from another previously sunken ship in the area. "The strong waves and adverse maritime conditions may have aggravated the vessel's list and affected its stability before it completely submerged. The exact cause of the incident remains under investigation," Cayabyab remarked. The tugboat had previously run aground off the coast of Barangay Bangan, also in Botolan, the previous week due to a seawater leak in its hull, a detail considered relevant to the ongoing investigation.

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The strong waves and adverse maritime conditions may have aggravated the vessel's list and affected its stability before it completely submerged. The exact cause of the incident remains under investigation.