30 Rescued from a Boat stranded at Sea Near Taganak, Tawi-Tawi

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Tawi-Tawi: The Philippine Navy successfully rescued 30 crew members and passengers from a disabled wooden motor launch that became stranded off the Turtle Islands near Taganak Island in Tawi-Tawi province late Friday night, authorities said.

 The distress call came after the M/L Nurdia suffered a broken rudder and engine failure, leaving it adrift about 46 miles off Taganak in the waters close to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

 Personnel aboard the BRP Juan Magluyan, a vessel of the Western Mindanao Naval Command, spotted a flashing light in the distance and moved to investigate, confirming the boat’s disabled condition and the presence of stranded passengers, including a pregnant woman, five children and two elderly adults.

 Despite rough sea conditions, Navy crew members safely transferred all 30 people onto their ship before dawn Saturday and escorted them to Taganak Seaport, where they were handed over to the Taganak Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for further care.

 Local officials provided food, water, and basic medical assistance to the rescued passengers, who were reported to be in good condition following the operation. The Navy also arranged for the safe towing of the disabled motor launch to a nearby beach to prevent navigational hazards in the area.

 Naval authorities underscored the importance of ongoing maritime patrols in the busy southern sea lanes, which are frequently used by small vessels, fishing boats, and inter-island ferries. They also reminded boat operators to conduct thorough safety and equipment checks before setting out to sea.