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.
Washed ashore
The bodies of Norman Galon, Michael Inoc, Jose Sherwin Laniba and Mark Evan Cuesta were found on the shores of three barangays.
Galon, who was from Sitio Galaxy, Brgy. Maguikay in Mandaue City, Cebu was found in Brgy. Balite.
Cuesta, who hailed from Maslog, Danao City, Cebu was washed ashore in Brgy. Mabua.
The bodies of Inoc and Laniba were both found in Brgy. Jubgan.
In a statement Wednesday, the PCG said it deployed a land mobility vehicle to search for the missing crew on the shores of Malimono and San Francisco.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Surigao del Norte deployed a drone.
The PCG said the shipowner also deployed a private plane to conduct an aerial survey over the waters of Malimono and San Francisco.
Assistance
Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. has committed to provide assistance to Villanueva.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Gullas said he had requested his personnel to coordinate with authorities in Surigao del Norte.
Villanueva is receiving treatment at the Caraga Regional District Hospital in Surigao City.
Gullas also requested officials of Barangay Linao to locate Villanueva’s family.
Gullas assured Villanueva’s family that the City Government will do everything to assist him.
“For now, we are focused on providing assistance to Mr. Villanueva and his family, including facilitating his trip back to Cebu. We are also planning to provide psychosocial intervention for Mr. Villanueva due to trauma that he suffered during the incident,” Gullas added. (JKV / ANV)