At least 123 passengers of a motor banca were rescued after their vessel encountered engine trouble off Masbate province Saturday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Sunday.

 

The NDRRMC said the MB Brian left Claveria town in Masbate Saturday and was heading for San Pascual Pier in Masbate when it went dead in the water.

 

On board the vessel were five crewmembers and 118 passengers, including 18 teachers and 100 students participating in the District Meet at San Pascual in Burias Island.
 

The delegation was from the South Claveria South District, it added.

 

A Navy search-and-rescue team spotted the stranded banca 300 yards noethwest of Cueva Point in Burias Island.

 

The banca was safely towed to San Pascual Pier at 4:30 a.m. Saturday, the NDRRMC said.

 

It added all crew and passengers were safe, and no untoward incident was recorded. — ELR, GMA News