49 passengers rescued as boat sinks off Calbayog City

TACLOBAN CITY—At least 49 passengers were rescued after a motorboat sank in waters off Calbayog City, Samar on Monday (Aug. 12) morning.

M/B Miar Romces just left the Calbayog City Port around 11 a.m. when it ran into strong winds and waves bigger than the boat.

The passengers were headed to Tagapul-an, an island town also in Samar province.

Seaman Reni Costimiano, of the Philippine Coast Guard in Calbayog, said the boat sank when it filled with water poured on by waves stirred up by the southwest monsoon.

Castimiano, in a phone interview, said some passengers hung on to the boat and others were already floating in the water when rescuers arrived.

Castimiano said there was no casualty and some passengers suffered just minor injuries./TSB