Big Waves Sink Cargo Vessel in Seas Between Bohol and Leyte, 28 of 29 on Board Rescued

Big waves sank a cargo ship while sailing between the islands of Leyte and Bohol at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday, but 28 of the 29 people on board, including the ship captain, were rescued while a crane operator remained missing.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu Station Commander Dionilett Ampil said a gale warning was issued on Tuesday, prohibiting sea vessels below 250 gross tons from sailing.

But the MV Meridian Tres was cleared to leave the Port of Cebu for Tacloban City in Leyte since the cargo vessel owned by Cresencio Tio of Meridian Cargoes Forwarder based in Manila had a gross tonnage of 2,528.

Ship captain Napoleon Emphasis, 64, said the winds were strong but the water at the Mactan Channel was calm when they left Pier 5 in Cebu City at 1:55 p.m. on Tuesday.

He said the vessel was battered by huge waves in between the islands of Leyte and Bohol some seven hours after they left the Cebu port, causing it to tilt and later sink.

At least 28 crew members were saved by nearby vessels and Coast Guard teams that responded to the distress call.

Crane operator Benjamin Orola remained missing.

Emphasis and 23 surviving crew members were brought to the Cebu Coast Guard station on Wednesday morning to rest and undergo stress debriefing.

The four others who were rescue by other vessels were scheduled to arrive in Cebu on Thursday.

The 24 crew members who were brought to Cebu Wednesday sustained scratches on the legs but no one sustained serious injuries. PNA)LGI/EB/EDS