Fears Grow For British Crew Of Missing Yacht

Fears are growing for five people missing while sailing from Hong Kong to the Philippines.

Search and rescue teams have failed to locate the yacht Europa which sent out a distress signal in the South China Sea last week at the time a storm hit the region.

The British embassy in Manila has confirmed that two Britons were on board the ship. "We are liaising urgently with the local authorities concerning search and rescue operations and providing support to the families," it said.

Tropical storm Mujigae blew out of the northern Philippines on Saturday and intensified at sea into a powerful typhoon before hitting the southern Chinese province of Guangdong the following day.

At least 10 people were killed in both countries, Chinese and Philippine authorities said.

More than 200 Filipino fishermen were reported missing in Mujigae's aftermath, Manila's Office of Civil Defence said.

Many sailed back safely after taking shelter and others were rescued but a few dozen fishermen remain missing.

Europa left Hong Kong on Thursday and was supposed to arrive in Subic Bay northwest of Manila not later than Monday.

An emergency position-indicating radio beacon on the 18.2-meter (60-foot) yacht was activated on Saturday, indicating the vessel was in distress, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club said.

Hong Kong's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre dispatched a search plane and alerted passing ships. "No yacht, life raft or debris was detected," the club said.

Philippine's Coast Guard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said an unidentified body and a life jacket have been spotted near Europa's last known position.

Balilo's office has named one of the missing Britons as Robin Wyatt, believed to be the managing director of Europa Yachts Ltd based in the Philippines.

The other missing Briton is named as Brian Turner and the rest of the crew as Alan Lundy of the US, Canadian Harry Taylor and Filipino Rudulph Bolloloz. All are said to be experienced sailors.