Tugboat sinks off Philippines coast; crew jumps into sea to save themselves

Ten crew members were rescued after their tugboat sank off the coast of Botolan, Zambales, in the Philippines. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) successfully retrieved the workers who were forced to abandon the vessel as it encountered extremely adverse maritime conditions and strong waves.

The incident occurred as the tugboat began to list progressively to its starboard side, losing critical stability due to the force of the waves. According to the Philippine News Agency, the situation rapidly worsened, and the vessel disappeared beneath the surface, settling on the seabed at an estimated depth of 24 meters.

A video circulating on social media captured the tense moments when the 10 crew members and support team members jumped overboard just before the ship submerged. Fortunately, all individuals were confirmed to be in good health and sustained no serious injuries following their rescue.

Environmental and maritime authorities are now focused on the approximately 15,000 liters of fuel the tugboat was carrying. While preliminary reports from the PCG indicated the fuel tank remained intact, a strict surveillance protocol is in place to prevent an ecological disaster in the region. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the sinking, with possibilities including the vessel impacting submerged metallic debris, potentially from a previously sunken ship in the area.

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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.