49 passengers hurt after vessel hits SMC barge in Cebu

CEBU CITY—At least 49 passengers were hurt when their vessel hit a barge owned by San Miguel Corp. along the Mactan Channel that separates Mactan Island and Cebu mainland past 10 p.m. on Saturday.

Commander Dionlett Ampil of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu Station said four of the passengers were sent to  government hospitals for treatment while 45 others were treated at Pier 4 for minor injuries.

Also hurt was Reniero Maurin, skipper of MV Braquiel of 2GO.

Those injured were among the 90 passengers of MV Braquiel that was heading to Pier 4 in Cebu City from Ormoc City in Leyte.

But the vessel hit SMC Barge 8 of San Miguel Corporation that was being pulled by PSC Matatag at the Mactan Channel.

“When we say collision, two vessels are moving. As of now, the only thing that we established is the passenger vessel was about to dock here in Cebu,” he said.

Ampil said the shipping companies were asked to submit marine protests within 24 hours.

Ampil said that he will also meet the two captains this week to get more details of the incident. RAM/rga

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