(MENAFN) A tragic maritime incident unfolded in the southern Philippine waters on Tuesday morning, leaving two individuals lifeless. According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), a tugboat flying the Philippine flag collided with a Panamanian-flagged vessel near the province of Sarangani.

The PCG promptly took to social media to provide details of the harrowing event, revealing that the collision occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in the vicinity of Maasim. The incident claimed the lives of the tugboat's captain and a crew member.

In response, the PCG swiftly deployed four floating assets to carry out search and rescue operations. Their efforts yielded the rescue of six out of the eight crew members aboard the ill-fated tugboat.

Eyewitness accounts from the tugboat's crew shed light on the circumstances leading up to the collision. They reported that the tugboat was towing a cargo ship from Sarangani province en route to Iligan City in northern Mindanao when the other vessel, identified as MV Universe Kiza, unexpectedly cut through, severing the towing rope. This catastrophic event caused the tugboat to capsize, resulting in the tragic loss of life.
In a reassuring update, the PCG confirmed that the collision did not lead to an oil spill incident after conducting an extensive assessment of the area.

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