The 23 tourists were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard after their recreational boat sank near Sombrero Island, San Pascual, Masbate on January 3, 2026.
Nine of the rescued people sustained minor scratches and were immediately treated by the Regional Health Unit. Currently, all passengers are in stable condition.
According to the Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog, the boat originated from the Port of San Andres, Quezon and was heading to Burias Island, Masbate for an island hopping when it developed a hole in the hull. The PCG received a report at around 11:15 a.m. and found the boat at around 2:00 p.m..
A passenger said that two boats were supposed to be used but only one was used and the group was divided into two batches. Due to the limited capacity of the first responder boat, some passengers were temporarily left behind while waiting for additional assistance. No personal belongings were salvaged.
The PCG investigation is ongoing to determine the real cause of the boat's damage and whether its operator is responsible.
