Fishing boat sinks off Bohol amid effects of TD Luis — PCG

A fishing boat sank off the coast of Bohol on Sunday amid the effects of Tropical Depression Luis, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Monday.

“We received a distress call yesterday regarding a fisherman whose boat reportedly sank off the coast of Garcia Hernandez, Bohol,” PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

Cayabyab said the fisherman told authorities that his boat sank after large waves swamped it with seawater. He was rescued and safely reunited with his family.

The incident is the only search-and-rescue operation related to Tropical Depression Luis that the PCG has conducted so far, she added.

“We continue to coordinate with coastal communities and fishermen, urging them not to venture out to sea. Even in areas where no tropical cyclone wind signal has been raised, sea conditions remain unsafe,” Cayabyab said.

The PCG also warned passengers against boarding unauthorized or "colorum" vessels, saying these pose serious safety risks.

“We strongly urge the public to avoid boarding colorum motor bancas. Some operators take advantage of passengers whenever regular sea trips are canceled,” Cayabyab said.

“Again, colorum vessels are unregistered and often do not have adequate life-saving equipment on board. Boarding them puts passengers' lives at risk,” she added.

As of Monday afternoon, Cayabyab said ports in the Bicol Region, where 319 passengers—most of them at Tabaco Port—had earlier been stranded, had resumed normal operations.

She added that local authorities in Catanduanes assisted affected passengers, while the Philippine Ports Authority designated waiting areas for travelers while sea trips were suspended.

However, sea travel remains suspended in several areas, including the central and eastern seaboards of Cagayan, Isabela, the northern portion of Aurora, and Camarines Norte, according to Cayabyab.

The PCG said it remains on full alert and continues to closely coordinate with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).— MCG, GMA News