Wednesday, September 27, 2006
5 rescued from sinking ferry in Zambo
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Five Filipino crewmen were rescued from their sinking ferry Tuesday, as heavy rains and huge waves battered sea crafts off the southern port of Zamboanga City, the Coast Guard said.
"Navy and Coast Guard teams rescued the five crew members of M/L Harcima-1," said Claro Pontecha, leader of a Coast Guard rescue team.
He said the boat was on its way to the coastal village of Recodo when it hit a reef, several nautical miles off Sta. Cruz Island. The daring rescue took hours because huge waves and strong winds were making it difficult for the Coast Guard and Navy boats to go near the sinking ferry.
"We have to use two vessels and divers to rescue the crew and inspect the condition around the ill-fated boat; whether we can pull it out from the water or not," he said.
The boat was not carrying any passenger, except for its crew, Pontecha said. The Coast Guard took the rescued crew to its base in Zamboanga.
Heavy rains and huge waves forced many fishermen to anchor their vessels. "We cannot go out at sea in this condition.
Look at the waves and look around you, it is not safe to go out at sea because of the bad weather," said Omar Sakalahul, a fisherman.
Many streets in downtown Zamboanga were flooded and a large portion of the city was without electricity since morning because tree trunks, felled by strong winds, tripped power pylons in some areas.
Private and public schools also sent their students home early by midday. Boat passengers bound for Jolo and Tawi-Tawi islands in the southern Philippines were also stranded in Zamboanga after inter-island ferries refused to sail due to bad weather. (Sunnex)
(September 27, 2006 issue)
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