Ferry fire: Hopes flicker for survivors

More than a week after a deadly fire engulfed the ferry MV Maria Carmela, the families of about two dozen passengers still missing are still hoping that their loved ones are still alive.

So far, the body count remained at 28. Yesterday, the burned out hulk of the Carmela finally sank off the port of Lucena City in Quezon. There were no immediate reports of bodies found aboard the vessel.

Authorities hope that the missing had been picked up at sea by passing vessels as the area is a busy shipping lane and fishing area.

Relatives of some of the missing passengers went to Lucena, seeking word about their loved ones. They gave pictures of their loved ones to STAR photographer Mike Amoroso who was covering the tragedy in Lucena. They requested that the photographs be published in the Star, appealing for help in finding them.

Among the missing are: Lorenda Lee Esguerra, Lorie Ann Lee Esguerra, Ivy Marie Lee Esguerra, Maria Catherine Prudenciado Esguerra, Marie Angeli Saynes Esguerra, Ma. Trisha Rose Kaye Esguerra Castillo, Angel Bert Esguerra, Art Maurice Esguerra Medina, Elmer Louie Esguerra Medina, Dennis Eva Esguerra Medina, Lucy Lappay and Sayed Mark Angelo Lappay.

Capt. Alejandro Flora Jr., Coast Guard Southern Tagalog district commander, said the Carmela sank at around 12:55 p.m. after firefighters tried to put out stubborn oil fires aboard the boat.

Firefighting operations began at 1 a.m. yesterday and stopped two hours later for a water refill.

Armed with chemicals used for fighting oil fires, the firefighters returned at around 9:30 a.m. with additional firetrucks aboard the MV Sophia, owned by Montenegro Shipping Lines, which operated the Carmela.

However, at around 12:55 p.m., the Carmela listed to its starboard (right) side and finally went to the bottom in 60 feet of water.

Flora then dispatched divers from Batangas and Manila to search the wreck for possible evidence needed in the special board of marine inquiry investigation into the blaze. He also ordered the divers to mark the site of the Carmela’s watery grave so vessels can avoid the area.

An initial Coast Guard investigation indicated that the Carmela – authorized to carry 334 – was overloaded and 81 people were not listed in the manifest because they were non-paying passengers.

Over 200 people were rescued as fire swept across the 680-ton passenger and cargo vessel on April 11. Many jumped overboard without putting on life jackets.

Montenegro had denied that it violated maritime regulations, citing its 35-year safety record.

Investigators are looking into survivors’ accounts that the fire started in the ship’s hold.

The Carmela, which set sail from Masbate Wednesday last week, carried a number of trucks packed with dried coconut meat and live cattle.

It caught fire around 7:30 a..m. the following day near Pagbilao Chica island, about an hour away from Lucena City, its destination. — With Arnell Ozaeta