Leyte-bound ferry runs aground off Cebu

A PASSENGER vessel bound for Palompon, Leyte ran aground off Bogo City, Cebu shortly after it left the port at past noon yesterday, a local Coast Guard official said.

No one was hurt in the incident.

The MV Super Shuttle Ferry 10 was about 20 meters from Polambato Wharf when its engine supposedly broke down at 1:30 p.m., according to PO1 Romulo Bacalso of the Bogo coast guard detachment.

All 18 crew members and 63 passengers were safe. The passengers were brought back to the shore on motor bancas.

As of yesterday afternoon, the ferry was still on the shallow area with the crew waiting for the tide to rise.

Cmdr. Weniel Azcuna, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station, said the captain of the ferry, Elizar Macuto, informed Coast Guard authorities in Bogo that they encountered engine trouble and would just fix the problem before proceeding to their destination.

The vessel dropped anchor in the area but strong waves and wind buffeted by the southwest monsoon pushed the vessel toward the shallow portion of the port. /Correspondents Christine Emily L. Pantaleon and Jhunnex Napallacan