US warship rescues Filipino fishermen from sinking

MANILA (AP) - A United States Navy warship rescued five Filipino fishermen today after helicopter pilots spotted them flashing a lighter in the middle of the night while standing on the roof of their sinking boat, officials said.

A Navy helicopter discovered the fishermen in international waters just after midnight, hours after the fishing boat started taking on water, said Tina Malone, a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman in Manila.

The guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell, which was closest to the scene, launched two boats to rescue them.

Ms Malone said the fishermen were given a checkup and found to be in good health. They will be brought ashore when the USS McCampbell arrives in Manila today as part of a five-day goodwill visit by the USS George Washington aircraft carrier strike group.