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| International Herald Tribune The Global Edition of The New York Times November 26, 2008 |
| Ship sinks in Northern Philippines Ship on its way to Batanes capsizes off Sabtang ___________________ |
| THE TRACHEROUS WATERS OF VATAN |
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| MANILA, Philippines: A cargo ship sank in rough seas in the northern Philippines and commercial vessels plucked 16 of 20 people from shark-infested waters, the coast guard said Wednesday. One body was seen floating but could not be immediately retrieved because of big waves and fears that rescuers might be attacked by sharks, said coast guard spokesman Lt. Gary Dale Gimotea. He said at least one survivor was bitten by a shark. The stricken vessel, Mark Jason, was on its way to Batanes island to deliver airport construction equipment when it sank late Tuesday after being battered by big waves, Gimotea said. The 851-ton vessel left Manila on Nov. 17 carrying 14 crewmen and six construction equipment operators. Gimotea said at least five vessels responded to a distress call and rescued 16 men. Three were still missing. _________________________________________ _________________________________________ The captain of a nearby vessel reported to the coast guard that the crew was abandoning the ship. He tried to get closer but couldn't because of strong waves, coast guard Cmdr. Rudyard Somera said. Gimotea said the waters in the Luzon Strait, about 330 miles (530 kilometers) north of Manila, are normally rough at this time of year. Earlier this month, separate storms capsized two passenger boats in the central Philippines, drowning more than 50 people. Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of tropical storms, badly maintained boats and weak enforcement of safety regulations. In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,341 people in the world's worst peacetime maritime disaster. In June, the 23,800-ton Princess of the Stars ferry overturned during a typhoon, killing more than 800 people on board. - AP _________________________________________ Ship capsizes in northern Philippines November 25, 2008 -- Updated 0157 GMT (0957 HKT) Story Highlights - The Mark Jason was on its way to Batanes islands when it hit strong waves - Nine sailors rescued; remaining 11 wearing life jackets - Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of tropical storms MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- A rescue vessel and several commercial ships battled strong waves Wednesday to try and pull 11 crewmen from the raging sea in the northern Philippines after their cargo vessel capsized overnight. Nine sailors were rescued and the remaining 11 were wearing life jackets and clinging to ropes tied to their vessel, coast guard Cmdr. Rudyard Somera said. The stricken vessel, Mark Jason, was on its way to Batanes islands in the northern Philippines when it encountered strong waves late Tuesday. Somera said the captain of another vessel nearby reported to the coast guard that the crew was abandoning the stricken ship. He tried to get closer but couldn't because of strong waves, Somera said. "They trained their search lights on the vessel and observed that the crew were wearing life jackets," he said. At least four other ships and a coast guard vessel joined the rescue and dropped five life preservers toward the crew, Somera said. He said the Philippine air force and the navy also were asked to help. Earlier this month, separate storms capsized two passenger boats in the central Philippines, drowning more than 50 people. Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of tropical storms, badly maintained boats and weak enforcement of safety regulations. In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,341 people in the world's worst peacetime maritime disaster. In June, the 23,800-ton Princess of the Stars ferry overturned during a typhoon, killing more than 800 people on board. - CNN International |
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