63 Escaped Death After Boat Capsizes In Philippines

By Bimbo Ogunnaike with agency report

central Philippines has confirmed that it  rescued 63 passengers and crew of a ferry boat that capsized on Thursday after being buffeted by fierce winds and waves off Cebu province in the central Philippines.

PCG spokesman,Captain Armand Balilo of the PCG in Manila, who made this disclosure, said all 53 passengers and 10 crew were all accounted for.

“There are 63 survivors, out of the 53 passengers and 10 crew onboard … No deaths, no missing,” said Balilo, quoting an information from Coast Guard Central Visayas chief Commodore Ronnie Gavan.

He said big waves sank the boat MV Siargao Princess before 11 a.m. local time off Sibonga town in the southeastern part of the province.

“The front hatch cover of the vessel was detached due to the pitching of the vessel caused by big swells, causing water to ingress into the vessel. This made the vessel dip to the front and eventually capsized,” he added.

Balilo said the boat left Loon town in Bohol at 9:30 a.m. local time, enroute to Sibonga town in Cebu when the accident happened.