Boat capsizes off Cebu; 15 rescued

Fifteen persons were rescued past midnight on Monday, about 4 hours after the motorized boat they were riding capsized in the waters between Camotes Island and Danao City, Cebu province.

Fourteen passengers and a skipper (not 16 in total as earlier reports said) were clinging on the capsized MB Sinemona when spotted by the crew of MV Wonderful Stars of Roble Shipping Lines which was heading to Ormoc City in Leyte, said Cebu Coast Guard station commander Rodolfo Villajuan.

He said the vessel brought the rescued passengers to Ormoc. They will be transported back to Cebu later, he added.

Villajuan said the motor banca left Barangay Unidos in San Francisco town on Camotes Island in northern Cebu on Sunday night and was heading to a
Danao City on mainland Cebu.

But the motor boat was battered by strong waves about 8 p.m. that it capsized before it could reach Danao.

Jay Dagatan, operations chief of the Danao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said the passengers attended a team building activity on Camotes Island and were on their way back to Danao when they met the accident.

Citing initial reports, Dagatan said the passengers missed their scheduled ride so they rented a small fishing boat for the trip back.

Rodolfo Villajuan, acting Cebu station commander of the Coast Guard, said the fishing boat was small, undocumented and not worthy for sea travel at night. Apple Ta-as, Michelle Joy Padayhag / CDN / CB

Updated @ 11:50 a.m., April 13, 2015

Corrects number of victims, adds details of boat name and rescue ship

Originally posted @ 7:29 a.m., April 13, 2015