Roro ship sank off Batangas, 2 Aklanon crew members rescued

Two Aklanon crew members of the ill-fated M/V Starlite Atlantic Ferry were rescued in the ongoing search and rescue operations in Batangas.

The ship sank between Puerto Galera and Maricaban Island in Mindoro on December 26 between 10:20 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. while it was sheltered in preparation for Typhoon Nina (international name: Nock-ten), the Starlite Ferries said in a statement.

Deck cadets Airon Barrera, 23, residing in New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan and 27-year old Jill Violyn Gonzales from Poblacion, Ibajay, Aklan were among the rescued 14 crewmen onboard in the afternoon of December 26 off Batangas Bay.

One crew member died and 18 were missing. 

,

The crew members were brought to St. Camillus de Lellis Hospital in Batangas for medical attention.

Starlite Ferries said the cargo-passenger ship experienced barrage of strong winds and rough waves prompting the crew members to “abandon” the ship. No passengers and cargo were on board during the incident except the 33 crew members.

The Philippine Coast Guard was alerted by a 911 call that the Starlite Atlantic ferry was about to sink and that the ship captain the passengers to abandon the ship.

Sea and aerial seaplanes, choppers and tugboats were also dispatched near the vicinity of Maricaban Island in Mindoro for possible survivors. 

Starlite Ferries is also coordinating with the families of the missing crewmen and the Philippine Coast Guard, Marina, Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Air Force, the local officials of Maricaban and Puerto Galera in Mindoro and Matoco and Ilijan of Batangas.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL