Ferry sinks off Southern Leyte

Manila, Philippines (6th UPDATE) — A ferry sank off Southern Leyte coast in the town of San Ricardo Saturday evening, September 13, after sending a distress call, Southern Leyte Governor Roger Mercado told Rappler. 

Mercado earlier told Rappler at 10 pm that a total of 114 passengers have been rescued.

But his staff corrected the governor’s report two hours later, citing information from the Coast Guard and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

The PRC, as of 12 midnight, said 28 passengers and crew have been rescued. Of those rescued, 3 are in the Caraga regional hospital in Surigao City while 25 are in Lipata Terminal also in Surigao, according to Jonas Plasabas Maco, OIC administrator, PRC Southern Leyte chapter.

The manifest shows there were at least 84 people onboard the ferry: 58 passengers and 26 crew, Maco said. It capsized at around 7 pm, he added.

The PDRRMO said that Maharlika Dos, which was bound for Surigao from the Liloan Ferry Terminal in Liloan, Southern Leyte, sent a distress call along Pintuyan-San Ricardo area. According to the PDRRMO, the captain issued an order to abandon ship.

Maharlika Dos is roll-on, roll-off (RORO) ship that was also carrying 13 vehicles, according to Mercado.

Two other vessels, including a foreign one (M/V Lara Ventura), have been assisting in rescue operations, according to the PDRRMO.

No travel advisory was issued in Southern Leyte but the weather has not been good due to Habagat, according to the PDRRMO.

The PDRRMO said it was M/V Lara Ventura that first sent a radio message confirming the sighting of the ship. – Rappler.com