Boat capsizes in Cebu; all 63 on board rescued

All passengers and crew of a vessel that capsized off Sibonga, Cebu, were rescued Thursday afternoon, the Philippine Coast Guard said. A total of 53 passengers and 10 crew members were successfully found and rescued from distressed vessel MV Siargao Princess as of Thursday afternoon, Captain Armand Balilo, Coast Guard spokesman, said.

It was disclosed that MV Siargao Princess left Loon, Bohol at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

It suddenly encountered big waves when it was three to five nautical miles away from Sibonga, Cebu. The captain of the vessel immediately called for distressed when water started to get in.

Antonio Conag, the vessel’s captain, said that as vessel turned toward to Sibonga – going against the sea swell of at least 1.5 meters high – the front hatch cover of the vessel got detached. It caused water to ingress into the vessel and its front slowly sank until it eventually capsized.

Multi-role response vessel BRP Suluan as well as small craft and rescue teams were promptly deployed in the area to conduct search and rescue operation. A medical team was also dispatched to the site, the Coast Guard said.

“All accounted now. Sixty-three survivors out of 53 pax and 10 crew onboard for total of 63. Fifty-nine of them are now onboard MRRV 4406 en route to Cebu Port, while four are already at the shoreline of Carcar safely. (There are) no deaths and no missing (persons),” Commodore Ronie Gavan, commander of Coast Guard Central Visayas, said after the search and rescue mission.