Tragic Incident Claims Lives of Three Filipino Fishermen in South China Sea
Three Filipino fishermen lost their lives in a heartbreaking incident in the disputed South China Sea, as reported by the Philippine coast guard on Wednesday. The unfortunate event unfolded when their boat, named F/B Dearyn, was struck by a passing commercial vessel while anchored in a fishing area off the northwestern Philippines before dawn on Monday. This collision resulted in the capsizing of their boat, claiming the lives of the skipper and two crew members. Thankfully, three other fishermen on board the Dearyn managed to survive the ordeal, according to the coast guard.
At the time of the accident, eight more individuals were engaged in fishing on smaller boats, operating separately. The coast guard explained that adverse weather conditions and the darkness of the night made it challenging for the crew on the mother boat to detect the approaching unidentified vessel, leading to the unfortunate collision and subsequent capsizing.
The immediate cause of the fishermen’s deaths was not conclusively determined, as it remained unclear whether they succumbed to injuries from the collision or drowned. However, a police report suggested that they may have suffered “possible head trauma” from the collision. The bodies of the deceased were returned to their hometown in the northern Philippines by the three surviving fishermen and their companions.
It’s important to note that there is no indication that this tragic accident is connected to the long-standing territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The incident occurred more than 93 miles northwest of Scarborough Shoal, a fishing atoll that has been a subject of contention between China and the Philippines. Recent tensions in the area flared up after the Philippine coast guard reported the removal of a floating barrier installed by the Chinese coast guard at the shoal’s entrance, aimed at preventing Filipinos from accessing the area.
In response to this devastating event, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of the fishermen’s lives and confirmed that a coast guard investigation is already in progress. He stated, “We assure the victims, their families, and everyone that we will exert every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for this unfortunate maritime incident.”
Preliminary findings, based on the accounts of the surviving fishermen and sea traffic data at the time of the accident, suggest that a crude oil tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands might have collided with the Filipino fishing boat. The Philippine coast guard has announced its intention to locate the oil tanker and its crew as part of the ongoing investigation.