Cargo vessel sinks off Northern Samar

INQUIRER FILES

TACLOBAN CITY – Twelve crew members of a cargo vessel were rescued while three others went missing after it sank in the sea off Barangay Balicuatro, Lavezares town, Northern Samar on Monday afternoon, Dec. 30.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Allen, Northern Samar reported that MV Jerlyn Khatness was carrying cement from Naga City, Cebu to San Jose, Northern Samar when it was struck by huge waves that caused it to submerge at 2:30 p.m.

The incident was reported to the PCG Northern Samar Station around 10 p.m.

A fisherman aboard a motor banca rescued three crew members near Barangay Lipata, Allen, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation.

By the morning of Dec. 31, a total of 12 crew members, including the vessel’s master, Alberto Ompoc, were rescued with assistance from Santa Clara Shipping Line.

They were transported to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation and later moved to an evacuation center in Allen, where they received food and clothing from the local government.

Ompoc confirmed that 15 crew members were aboard MV Jerlyn Khatness when it departed Naga City.

The PCG Northern Samar deployed its personnel and search-and-rescue vessel RB-052 to locate the three missing crew members. Nearby vessels were also alerted to assist in the operation.

The PCG reminded mariners to exercise extreme caution due to rough sea conditions.