By Marie Tonette Marticio
TACLOBAN City - 52 passengers and 7 crew members, including the boat captain were all rescued in a sea mishap in Calbayog City, Monday noon (August 12).
(Photos by Analyn Mendoza Calimbo)
Reports reaching the Police Regional Office 8 revealed the incident happened around 11:40 A.M. along the sea waters of Brgy. Matobato, involving a passenger boat marked “MB Miar Romces" that was ferrying passengers bound for Tagpul-an town, also in Samar province.
Initial investigation disclosed that said passenger boat left from Calbayog City port located at Brgy Aguit-itan at around 11:30 A.M.
The passenger boat capsized approximately 1 kilometer from the port due to strong current and big waves brought by the southwest monsoon.
The Philippine Coast Guard, Calbayog City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC), Maritime Group and Lite Ferries crew immediately conducted a rescue operation upon seeing the boat sinking.
No casualty was reported during the incident.
Rescued passengers were assisted by the Bureau of Fire Protection- Calbayog City, while Calbayog City Police, in coordination with the PCG and Maritime Group are conducting further investigation pertaining to the incident.