CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 17 July) — A roll on – roll off (RoRo) passenger ferry from Camiguin Island ran aground near Lapinig Island in Balingoan, Misamis Oriental after being buffeted by strong winds and huge waves Monday afternoon but all 63 passengers and crew, including five children, were rescued by fisherfolk in Balingoan.
The Misamis Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said the fisherolk in Balingoan banded together to rescue the 63 persons — 47 passengers and 16 crew — from Super Shuttle 1.
By 6:40 p.m, all those on board the ferry had been rescued, Fernando Vince Dy, chief of the Misamis Oriental DRRMO, said.
“The passengers and crew members were taken off the ship one by one by a flotilla of fishermen’s boats,” Dy said.
Super Shuttle 1 owned by Asian Marine Transport Corporation, left the port in Benoni, Camiguin Island past 12 noon but encountered strong winds and huge waves midway to Balingoan port.
Dy said the ferry was near Balingoan port when it ran aground near Lapinig Island.
He said two other ferry ships owned by Asian Marine Transport Corporation, tried to pull the Super Shuttle 1 to port but failed when the cables broke.
Dy said this prompted the fisherfolk to rescue the passengers.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration had warned that strong winds and huge waves triggered by Tropical Depression Henry will be experienced in the coastal towns of Opol, Naawan, Manticao, Libertad, Tagoloan, Lagonglong and Initao in Misamis Oriental Monday. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)