TACLOBAN CITY– Sixty-one passengers and crews of a ferryboat were rescued after it ran aground at about 09:40 pm Sunday (Feb.11) off the waters of Capul, Northern Samar.
The rescued passengers and crews were onboard MV Reina Hossana which came from Matnog, Sorsogon, and on its way to Allen, Northern Samar.
On its report, the Capul police office said that at about 9:50 pm on Sunday, personnel from their station together with personnel of the Capul municipal disaster risk reduction management office and Philippine Coast Guard personnel responded to a call to conduct a rescue operation along the shoreline of Sitio Sagaosawan, Barangay 1, Capul.
Residents had called the attention of their station after seeing a sea vessel run aground at the shoreline of the said coastal barangay.
Initial investigation conducted by responding police disclosed that the said motor vessel left Matnog at about 7:30 pm on Sunday, and was navigating to Allen, Northern Samar, and upon reaching the sea waters between Capul and Allen, the vessel encountered engine trouble.
Big waves and heavy wind that occurred in the seawater resulting for the vessel to drift to the shore that resulted to run aground.
The vessel, according to Capul police, was carrying 16 light cars, 1 Elf vehicle, 1 forward vehicle, 1 trailer, and 8 10-wheeler trucks.
The rescued passengers and crew were brought to the rural health unit of Capul and later transferred to the evacuation center at the municipal gymnasium.
No one was reported injured. (ROBERT DEJON)
