At least three fishermen were rescued at sea after cyclone Basyang caught them on their way home from fishing off the coast of Camarines Norte province, the Coast Guard said Thursday. The Coast Guard said on its website that the three fishermen were taken to the Dinahican port in Infanta, Quezon Wednesday afternoon. The survivors – Clodualdo Era, 22; Carlito Bugate, 16; and Robert Arcilla, 22 – were all residents of Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte. Fishing vessel Shannys, owned by Arwind Avallaneda, towed their disabled fishing craft to port. Era said they left Calaguas Island on July 10 aboard the fishing boat “Rigor” to fish in the seas between Jomalig Island and Paracale, Camarines Norte. On their way home, they met strong winds and big waves spawned by Basyang, causing their craft to overturn. They stayed aboard the ship, eating floating seaweeds and a slice of raw fish. After floating for almost six days, they were spotted by F/B King Ryan, owned by Reynaldo Lavina. The crew eventually transferred them to F/B Shannys. The fishermen were taken to the Claro M. Recto Memorial Hospital in Infanta, Quezon for medical checkup while F/B Rigor was beached off Infanta, the Coast Guard said. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said more than 70 people died from the typhoon, internationally codenamed Conson.
