39 die as ferry capsizes off Masbate

CEBU - At least 39 persons, including three children, were killed while 76 others were rescued as a vessel capsized yesterday afternoon about five kilometers from the shoreline off Dimasalang town in Masbate, police said.

Masbate Provincial Police Office Director Senior Superintendent Ruben Theordore Sindac said the MV Don Dexter Cathlyn, with 119 passengers listed in the manifest, capsized at around 1 p.m. in barangay Magcaragit, Dimasalang town.The ferry left Dimsalang town in Masbate for Bulan in Sorsogon.

Sindac said authorities have so far rescued some 76 persons from the sunken ferry but investigators are trying to establish whether all the passengers in the ferry were listed in the manifest.

“The vessel is believed to have around 100 passengers on board. So far there were 76 survivors, 39 were confirmed dead but their identities were not immediately available,” said Sindac, who went to the Dimasalang pier to personally supervise the rescue operation. 

Sindac told The STAR that the bodies of the fatalities were taken to Dimasalang Pier. 

 Emergency workers are continuing to search for at least another 14 who remain unaccounted for, amid fears that more people could have been aboard the craft.

“The Don Dexter Kathleen capsized due to a freak accident, it was hit by a high wind despite fair weather and calm waters,” Sindac told local radio.

“We are still looking for 14 people,” he said.

The ferry was just 20 minutes into its voyage when it capsized, the police official said.

The ferry had 119 passengers and crew on its manifest when it capsized, said Sindac but he would not rule out the possibility that there may have been more aboard.

Navy, coast guard and local authorities were continuing to search the area between Masbate and the main Luzon Island, he added.

 Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sodusta says 76 people were rescued after the vessel was battered shortly after leaving port in central Masbate Tuesday afternoon.

Sindac told Manila radio station dzBB the ferry had been sailing in relatively clear weather when it was hit by a sudden gust of wind.

The banca was reportedly owned and operated by one Eduardo Yap of Masbate.

Interviewed on dzBB radio, Masbate administrator Herminio Valdemoro said the sinking was caused by a “whirlwind.”

“Bigla sumama ang panahon dito, may whirlwind na umiikot, posibleng nahigop ang bangka (The weather suddenly turned violent, there was a whirlwind. It was possible the ship capsized),” Valdemoro said.

Sindac said there were life jackets aboard the ship but the waves were too sudden.

“I am here personally at Dimasalang pier to oversee the rescue operations,” Sindac said

For his part, Director Raffy Alejandro of Region 5’s Office of Civil Defense said they are already coordinating with the local government of Masbate and the Philippine Coast Guard for the rescue and retrieval operations. — Philippine Star News Service/AFP/AP/GMANews.TV/LPM (THE FREEMAN)