62 passengers, 8 crew rescued as motor boat capsizes off Biraybiray Islands

CAMP COL. RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – All 62 passengers and 8 crew members were rescued when a motor boat was about to sink Wednesday afternoon at the sea waters of Biraybiray Islands, Barangay Poblacion, Basilisa town, Dinagat Islands province.

A flash report reaching the regional command and action center of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) here said passenger motor boat M/B Gencyrill 2 with 62 passengers was traversing the waters off Dinagat Islands province when the accident happened at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

“The passenger motor boat was accidentally hit by a hard wood debris that caused a hole at the right side of starboard (Parka) while sailing from Surigao City to municipality of Libjo, Dinagat islands causing it to capsize,” initial report received from Dinagat Islands Police Provincial Office (PPO) and Basilisa Municipal Police Station (MPS) said.

The incident happened some 300 meters away from the shoreline of Basilisa town where the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)Basilisa Station and Basilisa MPS are located, it said.

“A loud impact on the right side of the boat was heard and subsequently the sea water got inside the engine room causing it to submerge,” initial report said.

The captain of the said boat, identified as Edgar V. Ligalig was able to call for help that led to the rescue of all 62 passengers and 8 crews,” the report added.

PCG-Basilisa Station, Basilisa MPS and another passenger motor boat of the same passenger boat company immediately arrived and rescued all the passengers including its crew members.