Commodore Roy Echeverria, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station chief in General Santos City, said that cargo vessel M/V Bulk Carrier I sank after colliding with Liberian-flagged container ship HS Puccini around 8 p.m. near the entry point of Sarangani Bay.

Echeverria said the incident happened around 11 nautical miles off Tampuan point or near the coast of Tinoto in Maasim town in Sarangani Province.

“We’re still investigating what really caused the collision and how it happened. We’re currently focused on the search and rescue operations for the two missing crew members,” Echeverria said.

The PCG official said they first received a report about the incident when HS Puccini’s captain identified as Marco Krank made a distress call at around 8:20 p.m.

He said they immediately dispatched a team to the area to assist the search and rescue operations and conduct a maritime casualty investigation.

He said they also sent their medical team and marine environmental protection personnel to assist the ongoing operations in the area.

Echeverria said seven crew members of M/V Bulk Carrier I were initially reported missing, but five of them were rescued near Maasim town Wednesday morning.

He said the survivors, who managed to swim towards the coasts of Maasim, are now under the care of elements from the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion.

Niel Montanez, harbor operations officer of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) at the Makar Wharf here, said they only received a report about the incident at around 12:20 a.m. or more than four hours after the collision.

“We don’t know yet what really caused the collision or how it happened but it was raining hard in the area that time,” he said.

Aside from PCG personnel, he said a passing Solid Bay vessel and passenger ship Superferry also helped in the initial search and rescue operations for the 23 officers and crew members of the sunken M/V Bulk Carrier I.

Citing their records, Montanez said M/V Bulk Carrier I left the Makar Wharf in General Santos City en route to Dumaguete City around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The cargo vessel, owned by Cebu City-based Pulsa Shipping Company, was carrying 15,730 bags or 246.10 metric tons (MT) of corn consigned by R.O. Ang Enterprises of Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat.

Montanez said HS Puccini, which is operated by the American President Lines (APL), came from Davao City and was en route to General Santos City when the incident happened.

He said the container carrier, which was carrying 16,162 MT or cargo, was supposed to arrive at the Makar Wharf at around 11 p.m. Tuesday.