34 rescued from grounded ship

Sunday, December 18, 2011

DUMAGUETE CITY -- Authorities rescued 34 people from a cargo vessel, which ran aground early Saturday, as Tropical Storm Sendong (international name: Washi) ravaged parts of Negros Oriental.

Dumaguete Coast Guard station commander Agapito Bibat said the M/V Ever Transport II of Kheri Lines Inc. ran aground along the shores in the boundary of Barangay Tinago and Sitio Canday-ong, Barangay Calindagan in Dumaguete, close to the estuary of the overflowing Banica River, around 6:30 a.m.

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No casualties were reported so far.

The passengers included crew members and their families, Bibat said.

The cargo ship, with a gross tonnage of 494.87, originated from Cagayan de Oro en route to Dumaguete.

The Coast Guard said the ship initially docked at the Dumaguete Port last Thursday, apparently to pick up and load a shipment of beer.

It said it denied departure to all types of sea vessels since Thursday evening after the weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration, hoisted storm signal number 2 over southern Negros Oriental.

At dawn Saturday, as Sendong dumped heavy rains and carried strong winds in Dumaguete and other parts of the province, the vessel pulled out of the port to seek cover elsewhere as it was being slammed by big waves against the pier, said Bibat.

Bibat led Coast Guard personnel and were joined by the Negros Oriental Search and Rescue, teams of the Bureau of Fire Protection and the 204th and 211th Coast Guard Auxiliary Squadrons during rescue operations.

Fortunately, it was low tide, making it easier for rescuers to secure ropes from the ship to the shoreline, said Bibat.

Passengers were soaking wet as they disembarked and waded in seawater to shore.

All 34 passengers are safe and temporarily sheltered at the Calindagan barangay hall, awaiting relief assistance such as clothes and food from the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

There was no reported storm surge at the height of Sendong’s onslaught except for big waves as reported by the Coast Guard. (PNA)