ANILA, Philippines (AP) - The Philippine navy and coast guard are searching for 20 crew members of a cargo ship that may have sunk in rough waters west of the main island of Luzon.
Coast guard spokesman lieutenant-commander Algier Ricafrente says the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre reported late on Friday that it had received a distress call from the MV Oceanic Union off Ilocos Norte province.
He says the ship may have sunk or was sinking since the crew had already abandoned ship.
A navy vessel and a coast guard vessel, helicopter and airplane are scouring the waters about 160km west of Burgos township. Other ships passing through the area have been notified.
