MANILA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed after a Philippine-flagged tugboat hit a Panamanian-flagged vessel off Sarangani province in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

The PCG said on social media that the collision occurred on early Tuesday morning in the waters off Maasim, resulting in the death of a captain and a crew member.

The PCG said it deployed four floating assets to conduct a search and rescue operation, and that six of the tugboat's eight crew were rescued.

Quoting the tugboat's crew as witnesses, the PCG said the tugboat was towing a cargo ship from Sarangani province en route to Iligan City in northern Mindanao when the other vessel, MV Universe Kiza, cut through, damaging the towing rope, causing the tugboat to capsize.

The PCG earlier said the collision did not result in an oil spill incident based on a thorough assessment. Enditem

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