3 killed as vessel runs aground in Mindanao
MANILA: Three crew members were killed, seven survived and 10 others were reported missing when their barge, loaded with nickel ore, ran aground off Surigao del Norte province in Mindanao when supertyphoon Surigae was lashing wide areas of the country, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCT) confirmed on Wednesday.
Thepcgsaidthelctcebugreatocean,manned by a total of 20 crewmembers, was buffeted by gale force winds and strong waves from Surigae (local name Bising), that caused it to run aground off the town of Malimono, Surigao del Norte on Monday aternoon.
Thepcgsaidthebodiesofthethreefatalitieswere washed ashore while search and rescue operations continued for the 10 other crewmen still missing. On the other hand, it added that five of the seven survivorswerestillconfinedatthemalimono hospital.
But the PCG said they have yet to determine the final destination of the barge which was also carrying 2,000 litres of diesel fuel, except to say that based on initial information, it was contracted to carry nickel ore by a mining company.
The tragedy was the latest reported from the disastrous impact from the visit of supertyphoon Surigae, the second to hit the Philippines this year and the first in years to occur during the summer season.
Disaster control officials said the three new fatalities brought the death toll to a total of at least six, with 11 missing as Surigae lashed at the Bicol Region, the Visayas and the Davao Region In Mindanao.
Floods and landslides caused by heavy rains spawned by Surigae forced at least 40,000 families or 137,000 people to leave their homes in the Bicol Region alone, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
Meanwhile, state weathermen on Wednesday lited signal 2 over several parts of the country as the typhoon slowed down while on its way to the Northern Luzon landmass but assured it would not make landfall.
In their 10 am bulletin on Wednesday, weathermen said they spoted Surigae 360 kilometers east of Cagayan province in the Northern Luzon highlands. It was moving northwest at 10 kilometers per hour while packing center winds of 175 kph and gusts of 215 kph.