One person was reported missing while 22 others were rescued after a shipping vessel hit a fishing boat in Romblon yesterday.
A report from the Philippine National Police in Region 4-B (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan or Mimaropa) showed that the incident happened at around 5 a.m. in the waters off Barangay España in San Fernando.
According to the police, a boat named “Arnie Deca” was on a fishing trip in the area when it was rammed by a passing vessel owned by 2GO shipping lines.
The boat was cut in half due to the impact of the collision.
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“Presently, 22 crew (members) were rescued from the fishing vessel while one is still missing,” the PNP said.
A rescue operation is being conducted by the PNP and the Philippine Coast Guard.
According to the PCG, the collision hurtled the passengers of the boat into the sea and they were rescued from drowning except for one person who remains missing.
“They were rescued by passing F/B Gian May, but one person is still missing,” said Rear Admiral William Melad, commandant of the PCG.
He said the people aboard F/B Deca, a 19-gross ton boat, were fishing in the vicinity of Barangay Espana in San Fernando when it was “hit by unspecified southbound traversing 2GO vessel.”
A certain Cyren Madera personally appeared before PCG station in Romblon to report the maritime incident.
The 2GO vessel was monitored traversing the waters of Romblon an hour before the fishing boat was reportedly rammed through. It was said that the passenger ferry hit F/B Deca at 4:45 a.m.
PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo said that Coast Guard Substations Cajidiocan and Magdiwang responded to the incident by conducting a search and rescue operation.
But upon their arrival in the area where the collision took place, 19 passengers of the fishing boat were already rescued.
“Coast Guard Station Romblon made contact with F/B Deca and they were rescued by F/B Gian May,” said Balilo.
Melad said the rescuers have continued their SAR mission and were still looking for the missing person.
The PCG, he said, would investigate the maritime incident. (RAYMUND F. ANTONIO • ELENA L. ABEN)
