Motor banca sinks, 6 Filipinos, 5 foreigners rescued
By Jani Arnaiz
November 25, 2009
MAASIN CITY – An outrigger motor boat with 11 passengers including foreigners capsized at the height of Tropical Depression “Urduja” off Limasawa at around 8:00 in the morning Tuesday.
According to Maasin Philippine Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Manolito Dancel, the motor banca left Guindolman in Bohol at around 3:30 in the morning Tuesday to Limasawa for a diving expedition.
Dancel said it capsized at around 8:00 a.m. off Limasawa waters when one of its outriggers was broken due to big waves.
He said the six crews and five divers, all Europeans, managed to board their rubber boats but its outboard motor unfortunately fell due to big waves. The victims were only rescued more than five hours later at around 1:30 in the afternoon when two fishing bancas saw them floating in vast sea and brought them to Magallanes village in Limasawa under the care of village chief Ronnel Gabriel.
Dancel identified the victims as Thomas Burgi of Switzerland, Gabi Girr, Marcus Offerman, Patrick Fehrenz and Corrine Fehrenz all of Germany.
The six Filipino crews were identified as Reynaldo Rosales, Gabriel Nialan, Emmanuel Olayvar, Jasper Olayvar, Daniel Logronio and Dennis Olayvar.
Dancel, said he didn’t know why they were allowed to sail when there was tropical depression. He added that there is no coast guard station in Guidolman, Bohol.
Meanwhile, the coast guard officer said that at least 253 passengers and six cargo vessels and 26 vehicles remained stranded in Hilongos, Bato and Liloan ports.
Six vessels with destination in Leyte took shelter in Ubay, Pitogo, and Pres. Garcia in Bohol and in Labogon in Mandaue City.
Dancel said, vessels of more than 1,000 gross tonnage are allowed to sail but those smaller are not allowed.
In Liloan, 52 families were evacuated to Guintoylan village hall after a landslide hit in the area at around 8:00 in the morning of Tuesday, Liloan mayor Sherlita Chiong said in a text message.
No one was reported hurt.
Southern Leyte and Maasin City have been experiencing sporadic heavy rains for four days now that it may have caused the landslide.
