FOUR seafarers, including two Cebuanos, died and nine others went missing after their cargo ship LCT Cebu Great Ocean ran aground near the shoreline of Brgy. Cantapoy in Malimono, Surigao del Norte Monday afternoon, April 19, 2021.
The ship, which is loaded with nickel ore and about 2,000 liters of diesel fuel, was battered by big waves caused by Typhoon Bising.
The typhoon’s rainbands and powerful winds affected parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, causing authorities to suspend sea travel as early as Friday, April 16.
On Monday, however, Surigao del Norte was no longer under any tropical cyclone wind signal. State weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration lifted the alert over Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur on April 18.
As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said seven crewmembers have been rescued while the bodies of four others have been recovered.
Search and rescue operations for nine other crewmembers were still being conducted Wednesday by the PCG Surigao del Norte Station and the Philippine National Police Maritime Group.
The survivors are Noli Labucay, chief mate Roger Polo, Arjie Bacarra, Joejie Villanueva, Felipe Quebuen, John Renzo Guanzon and Junmar Galeos.
Villanueva is from Brgy. Linao, Talisay City while Quebuen is from Asturias town, also in Cebu. Both, along with Polo, are being treated at the Caraga Regional Hospital.
The rest were brought to the Malimono Regional Health Unit.