Rescue team able to go inside the capsized ferry, retrieved three bodies inside, reported 70 dead passengers

miami
June 24, 2008
Story: Rescue team able to go inside the capsized ferry, retrieved three bodies inside, reported 70 dead passengers

The divers for the search and rescue team were able to go inside the capsized ferry M/V Princess of the Star and were able to see floating bodies inside of the capsized ferry, three of which were retrieved, official said.

“Coast guard divers were able to get inside this morning. Since yesterday (Monday) the rescue tem already studying how and where they can get inside the vessel but they cannot do it because of the strong winds and current at the area,” Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said.

He confirmed that three people were also retrieved inside the vessel, one is a crewmember still wearing his uniform attached to it his handheld radio and the other one is a passenger.
According to Commodore Luis Tuason of NCR PCG, 14 divers went under the sea from 6:00 am to 10:00 am of Tuesday. The operation will continue till 5:00 pm or depending on the weather condition at the area.

On the press briefing of the NDCC at around 6:30 pm in Camp Aguinaldo, Lt. Commander Rogelio Villanueva, representative from the PCG finally confirmed that they have 70 dead bodies already which belongs to the ferry. On his breakdown, 8 retrieved from the Sibuyan Island of San Fernando, Romblon, 4 from Mulanay, Quezon and 55 from Claveria, Masbate.

The PCG also recorded 48 survivors. 4 retrieved from Sibuyan island, 39 from Mulanay, Quezon and 5 from Claveria, Masbate.

Villanueva said as of 4:00 pm Tuesday, there were already have 40 divers came from Coast Guard and another 40 from Coast guard auxiliary and 10 divers from the US Navy Ship Stockholm. The US Navy ship arrived at the scene at around 3:30 am to assist in the rescue operation.

The Coast Guard also added that the divers having difficulty in entering inside the ship because it is very dark inside. They will be needing additional lights to be used inside.

However the divers were able to see the accommodation compartment and the bridge and has seen many floating bodies but they cannot count on it yet..

As for the first plan that they will make a whole at the hull of the ship, this was disregarded because it will be more dangerous. Villanueva explained, cutting the ship or creating a whole may cause for the ship to sink because air might enter on the whole that they will be making. “Air pressure will not be helpful for us, also the divers might drowned as well,” Villanueva said.

The other thing that they are considering why they do not want to cut the hull of the ship is because they might hit the tanker of the ship and will cause more damage on the area.

Meanwhile, according to Vice President of Sulpico Lines Mr. Ed Go and VP for Passenger service, representatives from Sulpicio Lines who attended the press briefing said that they will shoulder the expenses of the victims as well both the living and the dead.

For the death families, Php200,000 will be allotted for each of them and can be claim by the immediate family. But they have to undergo a process to prove that they are really the immediate family. The Department of Social Welfare and Development will assit the victims on processing it.

For the survivors, Sulpicio Lines will shoulder the medications, hospitalization and even their fare trip on going to Cebu City or Manila.

NDCC Executive Director Anthony Golez said that the body of the victims will be brought to Cebu City since most of them are natives of Cebu. The bodies will be brought in Cebu city for proper identification of the body. The NBI will be the one who will do the identification of the body.