RORO carrying 62 sinks off Masbate, 1 confirmed dead

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - A roll on roll off (RORO) shipping vessel carrying 80 people sank off the coast of Burias Island, Masbate around 5:30 a.m. on Friday, leaving at least one person dead.

About 22 crew members and 40 passengers were on board M/V Lady of Mount Carmel when it departed at 2:00 am from Pio Duran, Albay en route to Aroroy, Masbate.

The deceased victim Perlita Senia, 50, was recovered by the Philippine Coast Guard which has launched search operations for the passengers and crewmen early this morning.

Initial report from PCG said that 20 people including the ship's captain Lauro Mateo have so far been rescued as of 9:40 a.m.

Mateo said in a radio interview that there was "fair weather" at the time of the incident, but that the ship was suddenly caught "off balanced" and tilted on its side before it sank.

"Biglaan yung nangyari, tumagilid," Mateo said, adding that the M/V Mount Carmel just came from a maintenance procedure recently.

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He added that he was only a reliever for the ship's original captain.

The captain added that life vests were distributed as the ship was about to descend, but not all of the passengers were given the jackets as time was already running short.

Coast Guard Seaman First Class John Michael Mandane said in a separate radio interview that among the ship's cargo were two buses and a 6-wheeler truck.

Mandane added that the M/V Lady of Mouth Carmel could longer be seen from the surface of the water.

"Yung RORO 'di makita, lumubog talaga," he said.


Source: Philstar