By Ernesto A. Delgado
MASBATE CITY, June 14 (PIA) -- Coast Guard and navy rescuers have plucked 54 passengers and crew from the sea after their ferry capsized off Burias Island in Masbate early Friday morning.
The ship’s skipper, identified as Mateo Gregorio, was among those rescued.
Divers and rescue workers with a light plane, helicopter and a ship were scouring the sea in search of more survivors after M/V Lady of Mount Carmel, carrying some 57 passengers and crew, listed and sank off Claveria town in Burias Island at around 5 a.m., according to local officials and Coast Guard sources.
Masbate Governor Rizalina Lanete’s spokesperson Merien Esber told the local radio dyME that two female passengers were confirmed dead.
She identified one of the fatalities as Perlita Seña, 59.
Citing official reports, Esber said the ferry left Pio Duran Port in Albay at around 2 a.m. and was just about an hour away from its destination in Aroroy, Masbate when it sank.
Senior Supt. Jeffrey Fernandez, deputy provincial director of Philippine National Police for Masbate, said there were 35 passengers, 22 crew members, two buses and a six-wheeler truck in the ship’s manifest.
But quoting some survivors, Esber said the ship may have carried more than 57 people.
Divers and rescue workers were searching the sea for survivors amid the floating debris, which was all that remained of the ferry.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo said that passing vessels have been contacted for help.
Most of the survivors have been brought to the town of Aroroy in Masbate and have been given medication, food and clothing, according to Renato Esquilona, an official of town’s local government.
Some 19 other survivors were taken to Legazpi City by coast guards, said Glen Malnegro of Kabalikat, a radio communications group that was involved in the search and rescue operations.
On a national television, Bicol civil defense chief Raffy Alejandro said authorities have yet to determine the cause of the sinking.
But the ship’s skipper told local officials in Aroroy that a loss of balance may have been the cause of the sinking, noting the waters and weather were calm when the vessel went down in the darkness.
M/V Lady of Mount Carmel was a roll-on, roll-off type of ferry commonly used in the country to move people, cargo and vehicles across the hundreds of sea ports. Most ferries are overcrowded, and pay little heed to safety regulations.
In 2002, the M/V Carmela caught fire several hours after leaving Masbate City Port, leaving almost 200 dead. (MAL/EAD-PIA5/Masbate)
MASBATE CITY, June 14 (PIA) -- Coast Guard and navy rescuers have plucked 54 passengers and crew from the sea after their ferry capsized off Burias Island in Masbate early Friday morning.
The ship’s skipper, identified as Mateo Gregorio, was among those rescued.
Divers and rescue workers with a light plane, helicopter and a ship were scouring the sea in search of more survivors after M/V Lady of Mount Carmel, carrying some 57 passengers and crew, listed and sank off Claveria town in Burias Island at around 5 a.m., according to local officials and Coast Guard sources.
Masbate Governor Rizalina Lanete’s spokesperson Merien Esber told the local radio dyME that two female passengers were confirmed dead.
She identified one of the fatalities as Perlita Seña, 59.
Citing official reports, Esber said the ferry left Pio Duran Port in Albay at around 2 a.m. and was just about an hour away from its destination in Aroroy, Masbate when it sank.
Senior Supt. Jeffrey Fernandez, deputy provincial director of Philippine National Police for Masbate, said there were 35 passengers, 22 crew members, two buses and a six-wheeler truck in the ship’s manifest.
But quoting some survivors, Esber said the ship may have carried more than 57 people.
Divers and rescue workers were searching the sea for survivors amid the floating debris, which was all that remained of the ferry.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo said that passing vessels have been contacted for help.
Most of the survivors have been brought to the town of Aroroy in Masbate and have been given medication, food and clothing, according to Renato Esquilona, an official of town’s local government.
Some 19 other survivors were taken to Legazpi City by coast guards, said Glen Malnegro of Kabalikat, a radio communications group that was involved in the search and rescue operations.
On a national television, Bicol civil defense chief Raffy Alejandro said authorities have yet to determine the cause of the sinking.
But the ship’s skipper told local officials in Aroroy that a loss of balance may have been the cause of the sinking, noting the waters and weather were calm when the vessel went down in the darkness.
M/V Lady of Mount Carmel was a roll-on, roll-off type of ferry commonly used in the country to move people, cargo and vehicles across the hundreds of sea ports. Most ferries are overcrowded, and pay little heed to safety regulations.
In 2002, the M/V Carmela caught fire several hours after leaving Masbate City Port, leaving almost 200 dead. (MAL/EAD-PIA5/Masbate)
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