Stranded rescue boat rescued in Cagayan
TUGUEGARAO CITY—A rescue boat of the Cagayan provincial government was itself rescued after it was stranded on Friday when its engine went out while patrolling the sea.
The MV Eagle Ferry rescue boat, its captain and crew members were found safe by responders in the waters off Buguey town, just as Tropical Storm “Julian” (international name: Krathon) was starting to affect the Cagayan Valley region, the Buguey Information Office reported on Saturday.
As of 2 p.m. on Saturday, “Julian” was located 400 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in a bulletin.
The boat was towed to the San Vicente port in Santa Ana town, also on Friday, by a vessel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which was assisted by volunteers who helped in the operation.
The PCG has enforced a “no sailing, no fishing” policy along the sea waters in Cagayan and Isabela as the weather was expected to worsen by Saturday.
Meanwhile, preassessment briefings have been initiated since Friday in the provinces, cities and towns in the region to prepare the local governments for the storm.
Relief goods have also been sent to typhoon-prone coastal areas in Isabela and Cagayan.
On Saturday, Pagasa has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals No. 1 over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Tumauini, Ilagan City, San Mariano, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Dinapigue), Apayao and Ilocos Norte. —VILLAMOR VISAYA JR. INQ
