MANILA, Feb. 28 (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. ■
