January 5, 2026
CEBU CITY – An island-hopping excursion in Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan, Cebu, ended in a rescue mission when the motorized banca, carrying mostly Korean tourists, suffered engine trouble and damage amid bad weather on Sunday, January 4.
The incident occurred at 12:33 p.m. on January 4, near Barangay San Vicente, Olango Island in Cebu, the Philippine Coast Guard in Central Visayas (PCG-7) confirmed.
The motor banca Black Pearl, carrying 61 Korean passengers and 14 Filipino crew members, was on an island-hopping trip when it encountered engine failure, prompting its crew to send a distress report.
Coast Guard personnel stationed at Olango Island immediately launched rescue operations together with the Olango Maritime Police.
Passengers brought safely to shore
At approximately 1:18 p.m., authorities began the orderly and safe transfer of passengers from the distressed vessel.
A total of five speedboats and one motorized banca were deployed to ferry the passengers from MBCA Black Pearl to shore.
Despite strong winds and large waves, all passengers and crew were successfully transported to Barangay Maribago in Lapu-Lapu City.
By 2:02 p.m., the Coast Guard confirmed that all passengers had arrived safely on shore.
Black Pearl to be inspected once in a safer area
No injuries or casualties were reported, and all individuals were accounted for.
Based on initial investigations, the vessel suffered engine trouble and was subsequently pushed by strong winds and heavy waves toward shallow waters near San Vicente.
This caused the boat to run aground, resulting in a hole in the aft portion of the hull below the waterline.
MBCA Black Pearl remains stuck in shallow waters off Olango Island.
Authorities said they were awaiting high tide before towing the motor banca to a safer anchorage area, where it will be secured and further inspected to prevent environmental hazards or navigational risks.
Huge parts of Cebu had been experiencing inclement weather as a result of the prevailing shear line.