Rescued passenger of the ill-fated ML Muna-Isa 1. (Best available photo. Mindanao Examiner – Ely Dumaboc)
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 30, 2013) – A Malaysian national died and dozens of Filipino passengers, some of them injured, have been rescued from a boat that hit a rock formation in a shallow part of the sea off Pilas Island near the southern province of Basilan.
The boat, ML Muna-Isa 1, was sailing to Basilan province from Tawi-Tawi province when the accident occurred. A boat nearby, ML Rafida, rescued 63 passengers and crew from the ill-fated vessel and brought them safely to Pilas Island where the unidentified Malaysian was also buried.
Authorities said there were no details about the lone Malaysian casualty and little was known about the foreigner. It was unknown how the foreigner died or whether the Malaysian was travelling alone or not.
The Philippine Navy sent a ship, BRP Leovigildo Gantioqui, to fetch the passengers and ferried them to Isabela City in Basilan. An ambulance brought the injured passengers to the hospital. (Ely Dumaboc)
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