THE CONSUNJI-operated barge washed ashore in the town of Bugasong, Antique province. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Tropical Depression Egay disrupted the sea travel of at least 1,600 passengers and forced a barge to run aground on Friday.
The barge, operated by David M. Consunji Construction Equipment Resources Inc., was washed ashore by waves whipped up by Egay in the town of Bugasong in Antique.
It was carrying construction materials.
At least 1,600 passengers were stranded in ports in the provinces of Bohol and Cebu as authorities prevented small vessels from proceeding with their trips as a safety precaution.
At least seven fishermen who went missing in waters between Bantayan Island in Cebu province and the Gigantes group of islands in Iloilo province have not been found as rough seas prevented a search and rescue mission.
The Consunji barge carried 30 persons. All are safe.
In Cebu, the Coast Guard could not send rescue boats to look for the seven missing fishermen due to rough seas.
Weniel Azcuna, Cebu Coast Guard station chief, said authorities sent SOS messages by radio to vessels near the fishermen’s last known location in the hope that they could be rescued.
Emie Gabito, former councilor of Madridejos town on Bantayan Island, said the fishing boat Inday Sweet capsized at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday because of strong waves.
The fishermen were heading home when their boat capsized.
Only four of the seven fishermen had been identified–Johnrey Vergara, Antic Celeste, Gerry Bangalisan and Norberto Patriarca. The three othere were identified only as Jomar, Abel and Jimbol.
According to Gabito, one of the fishermen was able to call a relative by mobile phone after the boat capsized to say the fishermen were clinging to the capsized boat and awaiting rescue.
In Bohol, at least 847 passengers were stranded after the Philippine Coast Guard stopped at least six ships from sailing.
Lt. Commander Benjie Salmorin Quinisio, of the Philippine Coast Guard in Bohol, said while Egay was spotted in Luzon, Bohol and other provinces in Central Visayas still experienced strong waves and winds.
“We are affected by the gail warning signal even if Egay was in the north,” said Quinisio.
Among the stranded passengers was Lolita Marata, 60, from Lopez Jaena, Misamis Oriental.
She was supposed to visit her daughter in Cebu and was on board a ship bound for Cebu from Tagbilaran.
While the ship safely arrived in Tagbilaran, it was not allowed to leave for Cebu. Leo Udtohan, Nestor P. Burgos Jr. and Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas