LEGAZPI CITY – A fisherman drowned, two were rescued, and nine others went missing when their fishing boat capsized in stormy seas the other day off the eastern coast of Camarines Norte, it was reported yesterday.

The two were rescued by a team of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division under Maj. Gen. Ricardo Nobleza, the first to conduct search and rescue operations when the incident was reported.

Efforts to rescue the nine missing fishermen entered its second day yesterday with rescue teams from the Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force battling choppy waters and strong winds in search for more survivors.

In Labo town, a person also drowned on Tuesday when Tigbinan Lake overflowed due to heavy monsoon rains, inundating 14 barangays of the town. The Camarines Norte Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council reported that some 13 homes were evacuated while 453 persons were affected by the evening flash floods.

The fatalities in both incidents were not immediately identified by authorities.

Arnel Capili, head of the Bicol Office of Civil Defense, said that the two other fishermen who have been rescued earlier survived the ordeal.

They were identified as Nestor Apiota Sr., 48, of barangay San Lorenzo, Santa Elena, Camarines Norte, and Samuel Onilda, 36, of barangay Bagacay, Calbayog City.

Those still missing at sea were identified as Dante Forcales, Michael Agari, Rizaldy Labaro, Dodong Dancolos, Lando Forcales, and Ruben Espinosa all of barangay San Lorenzo, Santa Elena, Camarines Norte; Bersal Bonion, Marcos Ocampo and a certain "Jun Ayson" all of Mercedes, Camarines Norte; and Sonny Abrante of Tinambac, Camarines Sur.

The rescue operations included personnel and equipment from the Coast Guard’s Special Operations Group, the Navy’s Special Warfare Group (SWAG); and the 505th Wing of the Air Force.

In Labo town, the barangays affected by the flashfloods were Dalas, Masalong, Fundado, Cabusay, Awitan, Bagacay, Santa Cruz, Malasugui, Kammunding, Gumamela, Daguit, Anahaw, Bautista and San Antonio.

In its initial report, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council said the flash floods damaged water pipelines, collapsed portions of the provincial road and of some subdivisions, and submerged portions of the Maharlika Highway.

Governor Typoco organizes search and rescue teams

STA. ELENA, Camarines Norte — Governor Jesus "Atoy" Typoco Jr. and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Arnel Capili have organized search and rescue teams composed of personnel of the Air Force, Coast Guard, special units of the Army and Bantay Dagat groups of the local government units of Sta. Elena and Mercedes to rescue and search for the nine fishermen who went missing when their boat capsized east of this province last Tuesday.

Typoco at the same time vowed to provide all the necessary assistance to the missing victims’ families and the vehicles for the search and rescue mission.