Ship collision leaves 2 dead, 3 missing in Philippines

A Filipino safety officer and a Chinese seafarer died when two ships collided off Corregidor Island, the Philippines, Friday night, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday, Report informs via the Manila Times.

The PCG said the two ships were identified as the MT Petite Soeur, a Marshall-flagged chemical/oil product tanker, and the MV Hong Hai 189, a Sierra Leone-flagged dredger, which capsized following the collision.

Coast Guard Commander Hostillo Arturo Cornelio of the National Capital Region-Central Luzon district on Saturday said the accident happened at about 10 p.m.

Cornelio said the Hong Hai 189 was about to dock "when the Petite Soeur changed berth, hitting the starboard stern of the dredger and causing a hole that caused it to capsize."

Cornelio said the tanker was also damaged.

The identities of the fatalities have yet to be disclosed.

The SAR team was also able to rescue two more crewmembers who were immediately brought to the nearest hospital for identification and medical assistance.

A rescue vessel in the area of the accident rescued 16 crew of the MV Hong Hai 189.

Meanwhile, those from the MT Petite Soeur were safe.