14 missing after Philippine, HK vessels collide

A search and rescue operation is ongoing for 14 people missing from a Philippine fishing boat that collided with a Hong Kongflagged cargo vessel off the coast of Occidental Mindoro province, authorities said Monday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the collision between MV Vienna Wood and the fishing vessel Liberty 5 took place around 1:00 a.m. Sunday in rough waters off Tayamaan, Mamnurao.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said the accident was first reported by the captain of MV Vienna Wood.

“After verifying the incident and acquiring further information from MV Vienna Wood, the PCG immediately activated SAR (search and rescue) operations to rescue the 12 missing fishermen, including its captain, as well as two passengers of the distressed fishing vessel,” Balilo told reporters. FV Liberty 5, which is homeported in Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, was on its way to the Navotas fish port in Metro Manila when the collision occurred.