The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday, April 11, that it was monitoring a passenger roll on-roll off (ro-ro) vessel that sank due to typhoon “Agaton” off Camotes Island in Cebu as fears of a possible oil spill were raised.

Commodore Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said that strong wind and big waves brought by Agaton caused MV Mika Mari 1 of Jomalia Shipping Lines to submerge while docked at Consuelo Port in San Francisco, Camotes Island around 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

“Iyon ang pinapacheck natin sa Coast Guard Station sa Camotes Island sa Cebu. Kung mayroon mang oil spill hindi ito siguro makakaapekto sapagkat ‘yong oil spill na kinatatakutan natin ay bunker fuel. Pero sa pagkakaintindi ko, diesel fuel po itong barkong ito (This is what we’re checking through our Coast Guard Station in Camotes Island in Cebu. If we are going to have an oil spill, probably it won’t affect because we are worried about an oil spill involving bunker fuel. Based on what I know, this ship uses diesel fuel),” Balilo said in an interview over TV5.

According to Captain Alvin Dagalea, station commander of PCG Station Cebu, all 14 crew members of the sunken ship were saved by their rescue team. However, the ship contains about 5,340 liters of diesel fuel and 68 liters of fuel oil.

Displaced

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that Agaton has already affected 136,390 individuals or 86,515 families in eight regions. These were in Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Northern Mindanao (Region 10 ) Davao (Region 11) Soccsksargen (Region 12), Caraga (Region 13), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Of these, a total of 13,049 individuals were being catered in 71 evacuation centers while 25,485 individuals were staying in their relatives or friends’ houses.

The NDRRMC said they were validating reports about casualties coming in from the ground.

In Isabela City, Basilan, a motorbanca – MV Jarayfa – capsized due to big waves and strong wind while en route to Zamboanga City from Malamawi Island on Monday morning. Luckily, the boat operator and a passenger were rescued by the PCG Basilan after a distress call was made by MV Seajet of Aleson Shipping Lines.

In Baybay, Leyte, six individuals were rescued by the PCG Station Western Visayas after they were trapped at Minahal Kita Resto Bar due to flooding around 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

“Ngayon pong umaga mayroon po tayong natatanggap na mga balita tungkol sa karagdagang bilang ng mga kababayan nating nadisgrasya pero ito po ay ating vinavalidate at vineverify pa sa ating mga kasamahan sa local government unit level. So far po, ang ating count pa rin ay one dead, one missing, and two injured (This morning, we have received additional reports about new casualties among our people but these are still being validated and verified by out counterparts from the local government unit level. So far, our count remains at one dead, one missing, and two injured),” Timbal said in a Laging Handa press briefing.

As for the evacuees, Timbal assured that there are enough family food packs, hygiene kits, and other relief supplies for all of the m to ensure that they will not go hungry amid the onslaught of Agaton.

“Ang ating pong paghahanda para dito sa sama ng panahon ay nagsimula since last week pa kaya po ang ating mga supplies, personnel, equipment ay ready for deployment na (Our preparation for this weather disturbance started since last week so all of pour supplies, personnel, and equipment are ready for deployment),” he added.

Stranded passengers

As of 12 noon Monday, a total of 4,765 passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers; 2,522 rolling cargoes; 29 vessels; and one motorbanca were stranded while 77 vessels and six motorbancas were taking shelter in various ports in Eastern Visayas, Bicol, Northeastern Mindanao, Central Visayas, and Western Visayas due to Agaton, according to PCG.

The PCG also monitored a total of 7,949 outbound passengers and 6,563 inbound passengers in all ports nationwide as Filipinos travel to their home provinces in time for the Holy Week.

“Ang ating advise, ‘yong mga hindi pa nakakabyahe ay huwag muna pumunta sa areas kung saan may stranded para ‘di magkaroon ng inconvenience at ipostpone na muna ‘yong kanilang pagtravel (We advise the public to postpone their travel to avoid inconvenience),” PCG spokesman Balilo said.