The Philippine Coast Guard has intensified its search for 15 fishermen aboard the fishing banca FBCA Zshan, which went missing in the waters of Northern Quezon amidst severe weather caused by Typhoon Enteng near Burdeos town in Polillo Group of Islands.

According to ENSIGN Neptali Rofuli, station commander of PCG-Northern Quezon, they have requested a helicopter to conduct another aerial search from the northern part of Cagayan Province to Batanes.

The Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Air Force previously carried out surface and aerial search in the waters of northern Quezon, Aurora Province, Isabela, and Cagayan, including the Calayan Group of Islands, but were unsuccessful in locating the missing fishermen. 

“As of now wala pa rin tayo lead sir kaya ongoing pa rin po ang ating search and rescue operations , katulong po natin ang Philippine Air Force sa Region IV A,nag-aerial na rin po ang Philippine Coast Guard helicopter, nag-aerial na rin po ang Region 2 natin sa Philippine Airforce ,may request pa rin po tayo na makapag palipad pa rin po, ang trajectory po natin ay papunta po sa may Norte po pa-Batanes ” said Rofuli. 

So far, only the FBCA Zshan boat has been recovered by the authorities.

A local fishermen first spotted the drifting boat in the waters off Palanan, Isabela, on September 5, but due to strong waves, it was swept towards Sta. Ana, Cagayan, where it was recovered on September 7.

The boat is now at San Vicente Port in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

According to a report from PCG Northern Quezon, the last communication with FBCA Zshan occurred in the early hours of September 2 when another fishing banca, FBCA Irish J, made contact around midnight. 

The fishermen were returning home to Infanta, Quezon, from Benham Rise when the captain of FBCA Irish J heard from a local radio station about an approaching storm. 

FBCA Irish J, which was near Jomalig Island at that time, quickly radioed FBCA Zshan, which was approximately 12 nautical miles northeast of Kalongkooan Island in Burdeos, Quezon, to relay the information about the approaching typhoon. 

However, this was their last communication, as large waves struck FBCA Zshan while FBCA Irish J managed to reach Infanta, Quezon.

Even though almost two weeks have passed since they went missing at sea, the families of the 15 fishermen hope that they will still return alive to Infanta, Quezon.