Fatalities Now At 111

The death toll resulting from the deadly collision of MV St. Thomas Aquinas and MV Sulpicio Express Siete last August 16, off lauis ledge in Talisay City now reached 111, Philippine Coast Guard said on Thursday.

As of Thursday update of the Philippine Coast Guard, the fatalities already reached 111. The Coast Guard added that this left at least 26 passengers missing and 733 rescued.

Last month, the MV Saint Thomas Aquinas 1 sank after a deadly collision with cargo ship MV Sulpicio Express Siete. The MV St. Thomas Aquinas 1 sank along the Lauis Ledge within Talisay City coast loaded with barrels of oil, diesel and lubricants, causing oil spills within certain areas of Cebu.

The tragic incident resulted to the oil slick that prompted the town of Cordova and the province of Cebu to declare a state of calamity.

On Wednesday, the Talisay City Council had approved a resolution requesting the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC)to build a lighthouse along lauis ledge, Baranggay Tangke, Talisay City.

Resolution sponsor Councilor Antonio Bacaltos said the lighthouse would guide the passing marine vessels as they pass in this nautical highway near their city.