RESCUED. Coast guards in Ilocos Norte on Friday (June 4, 2021) rescue 12 stranded students in Badoc island. The students went to the island on Thursday but failed to return back home due to high waves. (Photo courtesy of PCG Ilocos Norte)
LAOAG CITY – Coast guards in Ilocos Norte rescued on Friday 12 stranded college engineering students in Badoc Island.
Station commander Laurel Paul Mariano Jr. said the students who were on excursion activity in Badoc Island failed to return home on Thursday afternoon due to strong winds and heavy waves due to Tropical Storm “Dante”.
“We were informed that there were students who got stranded at the Badoc Island. We immediately launched our rubber boat on Thursday afternoon but we aborted it because of high waves. After we were able to talk with one of them via phone call, we advised the group to just stay there overnight and wait for their rescue early in the morning,” he said.
He added it is safer for the students to stay there overnight until the bad weather subsides.
As of this posting, personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in close coordination with the local disaster risk reduction and management councils, are on heightened alert in case of any eventuality.
As strong to gale force winds are still expected to affect the western and northern seaboards of northern Luzon, fishing boats and small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves. (PNA)
