MANILA (Xinhua): The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday urged divers and dive operators "to exercise heightened vigilance and adhere to strict safety protocols" in diving areas with strong currents, following the deaths of two Russian divers on Thursday.
The advisory was issued one day after two Russian tourists died while scuba diving in waters off Verde Island in Batangas province, south of Manila, the PCG said in a statement post on social media.
The PCG said witnesses and rescuers noted that one victim's remains "had sustained severe trauma consistent with a shark attack," and "several sharks were seen in the immediate vicinity."
Local media said shark attacks in the waters around the Philippines are quite rare, with none recorded in at least a year.
A staff of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station in Batangas City, who declined to be named, confirmed to Xinhua that the victims were part of the seven tourists who went scuba diving on Thursday afternoon near the island, one of famous dive sites in the Philippines due to its rich marine biodiversity.
A local media outlet quoted PCG Batangas Coast Guard Station Commander Captain Airland Lapitan as saying that rescuers took the first victim to the hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.
The other one's body was also found by rescuers later.
Initial investigation showed that a strong current generated a wave force while the international tourists were scuba diving, causing the two victims to separate from the group.
The PCG said officials are still investigating the accident. - Xinhua
