Twenty-one Filipino seafarers were on the Devon Bay when it capsized on Friday, January 23, 2026. Two of them died. By the Chinese military’s account, 17 were pulled out alive, and four are still missing.
The Singapore-flagged vessel was carrying iron ore from the Philippines toward Guangdong province in China, according to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the flag state, is investigating the sinking. Safety4sea reported that the bulk carrier was bound for Yangjiang, China.
Two coast guards, one patch of water
The ship went down near Huangyan Dao, also called Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, which both China and the Philippines claim. Each side ran its own rescue.
China’s military said it received a report at around 1.30am on the 23rd. The Southern Theater Command said it started a joint rescue, and sent military aircraft and China Coast Guard vessels. “Rescue efforts are currently underway in full swing,” the embassy statement said, “and China’s maritime authorities are organizing additional rescue teams to rush to the accident site.”
The Philippine Coast Guard sent two aircraft and two vessels, BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Cape San Agustin. It had a different count early on. Its command center heard from the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre that 10 of the 21 crew had been picked up by a passing China Coast Guard vessel.
What the Philippines said about the position
The Philippine side put the ship’s last known position about 141 nautical miles west of Sabangan Point, Agno Bay, Pangasinan, at around 8:30pm on January 22. At that point a distress report said the vessel was listing at approximately 25 degrees. That spot is inside the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, where ships may exercise freedom of navigation under UNCLOS.
Coast Guard spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab said the service was closely monitoring the situation and was fully committed to the safety of the remaining crew.
By noon on the day of the accident, 14 of the 17 rescued were reported stable, according to the Chinese statement. The cause of the capsizing has not been disclosed.
Sources
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Sources
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