One Chinese national was confirmed dead and 12 others were hospitalized after a ship capsized off the coast of Barangay Malawaan in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, on Tuesday afternoon (April 15, 2025), authorities said.
The Philippine Coast Guard is racing to rescue 10 more passengers still trapped aboard the Hong Hai 16, which was carrying 11 Filipinos and 12 Chinese, according to Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano.
Mary Jolence Soriano, head of the Rizal Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the deceased Chinese national was declared dead on arrival at San Jose District Hospital.
Six other Chinese and six Filipinos were also rushed to the same facility for treatment.
The incident occurred around 4p.m. with residents capturing video footage of the vessel gradually tilting before fully capsizing.
Rizal town fishermen quickly responded, deploying boats to assist in rescue efforts.
Soriano said residents were unaware of the ship’s arrival until it suddenly appeared in the area, prompting them to alert authorities.
The sudden tilting of the vessel caught the community by surprise.
Governor Gadiano, citing a police report, said the ship, owned by FMC Shipping Management Chinese Vessel, was loaded with sand and was about to depart when it capsized and sank.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation, with rescue operations ongoing to save the remaining trapped passengers.
Photo: screengrab from a video footage
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