Cargo Vessel Sinks Off Iloilo Due to TD Agaton

A cargo vessel sank after it collided with another vessel in Iloilo strait Sunday.

MV Sportivo,which temporarily took shelter off Iloilo province due to bad weather brought by Tropical Depression Agaton (Lingling), sustained a hole in its hull after the collision and sank.

The vessel’s 28 crew members were reportedly safe and the Coast Guard is taking measures to prevent an oil spill in the said area.

The MV Sportivo was heading for Palawan to deliver a load of fertilizer. Due to bad weather brought by Agaton, it dropped anchor in Iloilo Strait, investigators said. The vessel tried to resume its journey to Palawan and after lifting anchor, it developed engine trouble and hit another cargo vessel.

Reports said the MV Sportivo was loaded with 28,000 sacks of fertilizer at the time of the collision. The ship’s captain Nemesio Igona was quoted as saying big waves and strong winds buffeted the vessel and caused it to collide with another ship.

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