Boat runs aground off Palawan; 25 rescued

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-five passengers, including seven foreigners, were rescued from a motorboat that reportedly ran aground off Coron, Palawan Monday night, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.

The M/B Hannah was carrying 25 people including two Israelis, four Frenchmen and a German when it developed engine trouble, Commodore George Ursabia, chief of PCG-Palawan district, said.

The boat left Barangay San Miguel in Linapacan town at around 4 p.m. Six hours later, the PCG Coron station received a report that the boat got stuck in shallow waters near Coron. 

The PCG sent personnel in an aluminum boat and rescued all 25 passengers.

Ursabia said some of Hannah’s passengers came from another boat that suffered engine trouble. 

He ruled out overloading as the cause of the grounding.

“We will investigate the incident. We want to know why it took the boat too long to get to Coron and if they were allowed to travel at night,” he said.

Ursabia said it was possible that the vessel had been stuck for several hours before its crew had been able to call for help.