TWO crew members — a Filipino and a Chinese — were confirmed dead after the sand carrier they were on capsized off the coast of Malawan village in the town of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, late Tuesday afternoon. The incident prompted a large-scale maritime search and rescue operation led by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The MV Hong Hai 16, manned by 25 crew members — 13 Filipinos and 12 Chinese — overturned under moderate sea conditions at about 5:20 p.m., the Coast Guard Sub-Station in San Jose said. The PCG swiftly mobilized multiple response teams, including specialized divers and marine environmental protection units.
