- Title: PHILIPPINES: One dead in Philippines ferry capsize
- Date: 14th June 2013
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JUNE 14, 2013) (REUTERS) COAST GUARD VESSEL "CORREGIDOR" COAST GUARD VESSEL "PAMPANGA" TO BE DIVERTED FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS COAST GUARD CHIEF REAR ADMIRAL RODOLFO ISORENA GIVING SPEECH IN SEND-OFF CEREMONY COAST GUARD PERSONNEL STANDING GUARD COAST GUARD REAR ADMIRAL RODOLFO ISORENA SHAKING HANDS WITH PERSONNEL PERSONNEL AT PORT (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD CHIEF, REAR ADMIRAL RODOLFO ISORENA, SAYING: "So far, as per our visual confirmation, 30 passengers are safe and have been rescued, plus one casualty. Though there are sketchy reports that there were additional people who were rescued, but we still have to confirm it." ISORENA SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD CHIEF, REAR ADMIRAL RODOLFO ISORENA SAYING: "We are conducting search and rescue operations. We will not stop until all the passengers and crew have been accounted for." system.scripts.10. SHIPS AT PORT (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD CHIEF, REAR ADMIRAL RODOLFO ISORENA SAYING: "We requested even the commercial vessels that travel regularly to Masbate to divert their voyage and to assist in search and rescue operations." VARIOUS OF PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS BUILDING
- Embargoed: 29th June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Philippines
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Accidents
- Reuters ID: LVA41LY32HCU6O4FQNOFBJ9P12SD
- Story Text: A passenger ferry sank in central Philippine seas on Friday (June 14), killing one, while rescuers are scrambling to save dozens more, the Coast Guard said.
The MV Lady of Mount Carmel sank around 5:30am local time (2130GMT on June 13), en route to Masbate island, three hours after it left Albay province in Bicol region, the Coast Guard told local media.
The ferry is completely under water off the coast of Burias island, it said.
The fatality is a 50-year-old woman, found floating at sea not wearing a life jacket, local television reported.
"So far, as per our visual confirmation, 30 passengers are safe and have been rescued, plus one casualty. Though there are sketchy reports that there were additional people who were rescued, but we still have to confirm it," Chief of the Philippine Coast Guard, Rodolfo Isorena, said.
He said there were 22 crew members and 35 passengers listed on board. Two passenger buses and a cargo truck were also on board MV Lady of Mount Carmel.
The Coast Guard has sent out ships, a helicopter and directed other commercial vessels in the area to join rescue operations.
"We are conducting search and rescue operations. We will not stop until all the passengers and crew have been accounted for," Isorena said.
"We requested even the commercial vessels that travel regularly to Masbate to divert their voyage and to assist in search and rescue operations," he added.
Maritime accidents are common in the Philippines, an archipelago with more than 7,000 islands where sea travel is often plagued with low safety standards.
In 2008, the ferry MV Princess of the Stars carrying more than 800 passengers, sank off Romblon island, killing hundreds. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
