Sixteen passengers were rescued after their boat capsized 'due to an engine malfunction' in the Philippines.

The travellers were headed to Albay province when their vessel suddenly stalled, reportedly due to a problem with its engine on Friday morning.

Rough waves battered the boat, throwing the passengers - including a nine-month-old infant - overboard into the waters off the coast of Rapu-Rapu town.

Luckily, a ship carrying Philippine Coast Guard personnel happened to pass by the area.

Officers found the people floating on the wreckage of the sunken boat, with some of them using empty water jugs as makeshift life preservers.

Captain Philip Nathaniel San Buenaventura, officer-in-charge of the Rapu-Rapu police, said: 'The boat had engine trouble and was struck by large waves.'

The passengers were pulled out of the water and brought to the Rapu-Rapu Health Center for check-ups.