Body of ship crew member who drowned due to Queenie found in Bohol

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The body of a crew member of a cargo vessel that took shelter from the storm was recovered eight hours after he was reported missing in Jagna town, Bohol.

Cesario Dela Serna, chief engineer of MV Edward Lawrence, was found by Rosario Ortiz in her kitchen in Barangay Looc, Jagna town about 5 a.m. on Thursday.

Ortiz’s house, located along the shoreline, was damaged by strong waves spawned by tropical depression “Queenie.”

Dela Serna was identified by Jemar Catapan, also a crew member of the cargo vessel, about 6:30 a.m., said PO2 Jupiter Aceron, Jagna police desk officer.

Based on the account of Catapan, Dela Serna said MV Edward Lawrence took shelter near the coast of Barangay Looc on Wednesday because the waves were too strong due to the typhoon.

Ship captain Roland Apparices conducted a head count of personnel about 9 p.m. on and noticed that Dela Serna, 59, and a resident of Cebu, was missing.

He then asked Catapan to go to the police and report that their chief engineer was missing.

The police said they suspected that Dela Serna might have fallen off the cargo vessel due to the strong waves.

Alfonso Damalerio, Bohol Provincial Administrator, said that several pump boats and houses in the coastal towns in the eastern part of the province were damaged because of Queenie.

He added they had also cleared the roads of the trees that fell due to the strong wind.

But Damalerio said they were still assessing, as of Thursday, the damage caused by Queenie because they had not received the reporters from other towns.

RELATED STORIES

Queenie still strong, crosses Cebu, Negros Thursday

 Typhoon Queenie sweeps Visayas; 250 passengers stranded