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Friday, January 19, 2007
Ship's mysterious cargo kills 2, injure 10
By Ulysses E. Israel
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Two persons died while 10 others were rushed to hospitals after inhaling fumes believed to be toxic gas from the cargo hold of a commercial ferry docked at the local wharf on Thursday.
Dr. Michael Macrohon, department head of the emergency room of the Brent Hospital in R.T. Lim Boulevard, Zamboanga City, identified the fatalities as Efren Ladjapailu, 35, of Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City, and Ben Capito, 40, of Sta. Catalina, also of this city.
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Macrohon said the two were rushed to the hospital, but were declared dead on arrival. Six of the 10 others who suffered from inhalation injury or suffocation were also brought to Brent.
Philippine Coast Guard Zamboanga Station commander Joseph Badajos said the ferryboat, m/v KC Beatrice, arrived early Thursday morning from Jolo, Sulu, carrying passengers and cargoes.
He said Ladjapailu and Capito, both representatives of cargo owners, went down the cargo hold immediately after it was opened. When the porters noticed that Ladjapailu and Capito had collapsed, several followed the two down to try and rescue them, but they too felt drowsy and lost consciousness, he said.
Badajos said he has ordered a probe into the incident.
A Special Board of Marine Inquiry will be convened to ascertain the cause of the deaths and injuries and determine the liability of parties responsible, he added.
"We have coordinated with the Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, Environment Management Bureau, and Bureau of Quarantine to determine what toxic chemical affected the cargo representatives and porters," he said.
He said he issued the temporary hold-departure order for m/v KC Beatrice pending the result of the investigation.
Macrohon asked the ship's captain to open the cargo hold to let fresh air circulate first before having the cargoes unloaded. The cargoes then will be inspected and investigated to determine what caused the deaths.
"We cannot rule out gas poisoning here, but we have to investigate further to determine what really caused the death of the two," he said.
He said the ship usually carries copra, seaweed, and assorted dry goods and fertilizer from Jolo to Zamboanga City three times a week.
Vicente Custadillo, 34, of Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City, one of those who suffered from suffocation, said in an interview that when he went down the cargo hold, the smell was like that of the chemical used for poisoning rats.
The City Government's Emergency and Disaster Response Team (EDRT) under City Health Officer Rodelin Agbulos was immediately dispatched to assist the victims at the pier and in hospitals where the victims were rushed.
Upon receipt of the report, Mayor Celso Lobregat also proceeded to the Brent Hospital where most of the victims were brought.
The other victims undergoing medical treatment at the Brent Hospital are Tatah Idjirae, Barlie Ahamad, Benjamin Bejerano, Felix Paler, Haiver Iddih and Iyah Basang. All the six, and the others who were rushed to the Zamboanga City Medical Center, are now in stable condition.
Most of the victims were laborers of a Zamboanga-based stevedoring company and they were about to unload cargoes at the ferry's stockroom when they fell ill.
Health authorities initially pointed to an engine leak, which allowed the deadly carbon dioxide gas to escape, as the cause of the incident, according to Lobregat.
The local coast Guard and Maritime Command are investigating the case. (Sunnex/With a report from SE)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (January 19, 2007 issue)
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