Four dredging vessels are seen partially submerged in this photo taken on Monday (July 29) after running aground in the Bucao River in Botolan, Zambales, at the height of Typhoon Carina last week. (Photo by Joanna Rose Aglibot)
BOTOLAN, Zambales — The usual dredging operations in the Bucao River in Zambales were disrupted when four vessels ran aground at the height of Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Commander Euphraim Jayson Diciano, chief of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station in Zambales, reported that two non-propelled barges, “PMI 15” and “IMC 30,” both loaded with vibro sand each with four crew members, ran aground near the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines power lines on July 24 and partially submerged.
After the incident, another non-propelled barge, “BIG GER,” with eight crew, attempted to head out to sea.
However, due to very rough sea conditions, it ran aground off Barangay Natividad in San Narciso town on July 25.
On the same day, a non-propelled barge, “PMI 12,” with four crew members, also ran aground in the shallow part of the Bucao River.
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PCG personnel responded to the incidents, rescuing all crew members and transporting them to the nearest Rural Health Unit for medical checkups.
Diciano noted that the PCG had issued warnings to all ships in the vicinity to seek refuge in safer locations before the typhoon struck.
“These vessels chose to take shelter in the Bucao River. While the situation there is moderate compared to the open sea, it is not a suitable sheltering area considering the intensity of the typhoon,” said Diciano.
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