Philippine Coast Guard operatives rescued Thursday seven Korean nationals aboard a tugboat in distress off Capones Point in Zambales.

 

The Coast Guard Action Center in Manila said it acted on information from the Korean Coast Guard regarding the distressed "M/Tug KOSCO-202" at 1:05 a.m.

 

In an article posted on its website late Thursday, the Coast Guard said the tugboat sent a distress alert some 10 nautical miles west off Capones Point.

 

Hong Kong's Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) also contacted the Philippine Coast Guard to ask for assistance for the distressed vessel.

 

Coast Guard Northwestern Luzon head Captain Leopoldo Larroya sent the 56-meter BRP-EDSA (SARV-002), which is based in Subic, to the area.

 

During its search-and-rescue operation, the BRP EDSA spotted the black-and-brown barge some 4.5 nautical miles north of Capones, or some two to three nautical miles west of San Antonio, Zambales. –KG, GMA News