Cargo ship capsizes near Panatag Shoal, 2 Filipino sailors dead, 4 missing

National

TRAGEDY struck in the disputed waters of Panatag Shoal as a Singaporean cargo vessel capsized, killing two Filipino sailors and leaving four missing, highlighting both the dangers of maritime travel and the tensions in the South China Sea.

The vessel, M/V Devon Bay, had 21 Filipino crew members on board when it overturned near the contested shoal.

Chinese authorities said the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command immediately launched a joint rescue operation.

As of 12:30 p.m. on Friday, 17 crew members had been rescued, the Chinese embassy reported. Fourteen were in stable condition, one remained in critical condition under emergency medical treatment, and two fatalities were confirmed.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the Devon Bay departed from Gutalac, Zamboanga del Sur, carrying a cargo of iron ore bound for Yangjiang, China.

To assist in the rescue, the PCG dispatched BRP Teresa Magbanua, BRP Cape San Agustin, and two Coast Guard aircraft. According to the PCG, the ship’s last known position was logged around 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 22, approximately 141 nautical miles west of Sabangan Point, Ango Bay, Pangasinan.

A distress report indicated the vessel was listing at about 25 degrees. The Coast Guard noted that while the ship’s location was within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, freedom of navigation does not authorize law enforcement patrols by foreign vessels.

PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said monitoring and response efforts remain active as authorities continue searching for the missing crew.

Panatag Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, is among Asia’s most disputed maritime features, long contested over sovereignty claims and fishing rights.

Separately, China summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz over remarks made by PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela regarding the West Philippine Sea. “It proves that our transparency efforts in exposing Chinese aggression are actually working. It also shows that China is more afraid on making the world know about their behavior at sea, especially in South China Sea,” Tarriela told “Storycon” on One News, as reported by Philstar.

He added that Beijing’s actions reflected an effort to silence the Philippines’ transparency initiatives, emphasizing that attempts to intimidate public servants would not succeed.

China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the summons, with spokesman Guo Jiakun describing Tarriela’s remarks as inflammatory, confrontational, and misleading.

Guo urged the Philippines to address the impact of these statements to avoid further disruption to diplomatic communication or bilateral relations.(MyTVCebu)