THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Central Visayas rescued more than 250 passengers, including two infants, on Monday morning from a vessel that
ran aground in Barangay Kaongkod, Madridejos town in Bantayan Island, Cebu.
Thirty-seven crew members were also safely transported out of the vessel.
“The ship, MV Pilipinas Butuan, was trying to avoid a fishing vessel early dawn on its way to Iloilo City from Cebu City port when the
incident happened,” according to Commander Agapito Bibat of the PCG Central Visayas.
Due to low tide, the vessel drifted to the “shallow” and “sandy” part of the sea, Bibat said and the rescue operations are still underway, as of writing.
The PCG is expected to take the passengers to their original destination within the day.
Meanwhile, the shipping line has not commented on the incident.
They are awaiting the marine protest of the ship’s captain that will
be part of their investigation.
Since the vessel was not punctured, Bibat said there is no possibility
of an oil spill at the moment.