1 dies as RORO sinks off Masbate, rescue operations ongoing
2013-Jun-14 10:52
2025-Jan-03 00:55
One person died when a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry sank off Burias, Masbate before dawn Friday.
Reports from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which is now conducting search-and rescue (SAR) operations, identified the stricken vessel as the M/V Mount Carmel.
The ship sank around 5:00 a.m. or three hours after departing from Pio Duran town.
M/V Mount Carmel was carrying 62 passengers – 40 passengers and 22 crewmen – at the time of the sinking.
Coast Guard Seaman First Class John Michael Mandane, in a radio interview, said that so far, they have rescued 14 people as of 7:00 a.m.
The vessel was also carrying two buses and trucks. The weather was fine at the time of the sinking.
A PCG helicopter is now being readied to conduct an aerial search of for survivors.
The Coast Guard is also checking for possible oil spill in the area. (PNA)