Fifteen fishermen missing when boat capsizes amid typhoon Yagi

Fifteen fishermen went missing when their boat sank in rough seas while typhoon Yagi battered the Philippines.

The crew were on a fishing expedition on the FBCA Zshan vessel when they were hammered by heavy rains and strong wind off Quezon province on September 2.

The churning waves swallowed the boat and swept away all 15 people onboard.

Footage taken by a local fisherman shows the eerie wreck of the sunken ship jutting out of the water's surface. It had drifted northward toward the coast of Palanan town in Isabela province.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Air Force, and local government have deployed helicopters and drones to search for the missing villagers.

The fishermen were named in local reports as boat captain Alexander Mahinay, 35, Edilberto Renegio, 49, Noel Cantela, 48, Rodrigo Beracis, 46, Rolly Rational, 40, Alex Balog, 40, Robert Yanag, 37, Alan Alicando, 34, Cyril Legaspi, 30, Wendel Lucero, 27, Randy Carpon, 26, Jason William Masato, 24, Renaldo Labo, 21, Kingjayler Mahinay, 20, and Rogan Beracis, 19.

Noreen Soronel, owner of the FBCA Zshan, said she called the Philippine Coast Guard stationed in northern Quezon after losing contact with the crew on September 3. She said she had warned the boat skipper to dock the ship in the island town of Burdeos to wait out typhoon Yagi.

Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla, Commander of the Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog (CGDSTL), said: 'The PCG assures the families of the missing fishermen that all available resources are being utilized to locate and rescue their loved ones. The Coast Guard urges the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings or information related to the incident to proper authorities.'

The CGDSTL said that the fishermen have not yet been found as of September 8.

Yagi, locally named Enteng, is the fifth cyclone that entered the Philippine archipelago this year, enhancing the southwest monsoon and causing widespread flooding in the country's north central region. It is said to be Asia's most powerful storm this year.

Authorities said Yagi left at least 15 people dead in floods and landslides in the Philippines. It made landfall in Vietnam on September 7, killing at least 49 people and leaving 22 missing.

The Philippines and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.