Search Underway After Fatal High Seas Hit-n-Run

A search is underway in the Philippines for 10 missing crewmembers from a fishing vessel that sank Wednesday night after it was reportedly rammed by an unidentified cargo ship near the mouth of Manila Bay.

A statement from the Philippine Coast Guard said that crews are searching the waters off Cavite for the 10 missing crew from the F/V Dan Israel-L, which sank after it was struck by a cargo ship bound for Manila at about 11 p.m. Wednesday night. 12 of the Dan Israel-L’s 23 crew were rescued by a sister fishing vessel following the collision, the PCG said.

A joint search was launched Thursday morning involving personnel and assets from the PCG, the Philippine Navy and local agencies following initial reports of the incident. As of late Thursday local time, so far only 1 body had been recovered while the search continued for the 10 missing. At least three of the surviving crewmembers sustained injuries.

A PCG spokesman told local media that they are still coordinating with the authorities to verify the identity of the cargo ship, which at this point has only been described by the surviving crew as a “big blue cargo ship” carrying containers.

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