Residents and emergency responders rescued four fishers in Barangay Maloh, Siaton town in Negros Oriental after their motorboats capsized due to stormy weather.

Ronrev Kinilitan, head of the local disaster risk reduction and management office (LDRRMO) of Siaton, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that the fishers were in pairs in two pump boats when they put out to sea last week in search for “dalupapa” or giant squid.

Kiniltan said huge waves and strong currents carried them to Barangay Maloh, where their motorboats capsized and were grounded in shallow water about 100 meters from the shore.

The incident took place around 7:00 p.m. when the town experienced an unexpected power outage.

Residents along the coast witnessed the incident and immediately sought help, Kinilitan said.

“The residents responded first by getting into the water in darkness while waiting for the emergency responders to arrive,” he added.

Kinilitan said all four fishers did not suffer injuries and returned to their respective families in Barangay Giligaon in Siaton.

One of the distressed motorboats with a twin-engine was destroyed while the second one with a single engine suffered minimal damage, he said.

The owner of the motorboats was identified as a certain Achilles Merto from Giligaon.

Meanwhile, the LDRRMO and the police in Siaton are on standby as heavy rains are reported in the mountains that could trigger flashfloods, although there is no need yet for pre-emptive evacuation, he added. (PNA)