At least five individuals of minor ages, and a 22-year-old man, were rescued after they were earlier reported missing.
The six persons who are residents of Barangay Tangke, Talisay City, Cebu were reported to be missing for around 20 hours since they left Talisay City for the Municipality of Cordova to gather “swaki” (sea urchin).
It was learned that the borrowed pumpboat they boarded on conked out.
The six did not bring with them any cellphone or emergency equipment.
Their parents reported of "missing persons" to the Bantay Dagat, Philippine Coast Guard, Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Talisay City Police evening on January 10, 2025 when they failed to return home.
The six individuals left Talisay City at around 2 p.m. on January 10, 2025.
Response teams from the said government agencies convened and launched a rescue operation.
At about 10 a.m. on January 11, 2025, they were rescued with the help of fishermen-neighbors who were able to help locate them.
They went through a debriefing from personnel of the Talisay City Social Welfare and Development Office.