4 dead, 7 saved out of 20 crews after a cargo ship runs aground in Surigao del Norte

SURIGAO DEL NORTE – The search and rescue operations for the other missing crew members of the LCT vessel that ran aground off the Malimono, Surigao del Norte on Monday afternoon, April 19, 2021, is ongoing with the cooperation of the Coast Guard, Maritime Police, and MDDRMO-Malimono MASART responders.

As of Wednesday morning, April 21, seven surviving crews and four confirmed deaths had been reported, according to MDRRMO-Malimono data.

Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Gretchen Suarez identified the saved crews as:

1. NOLI LABUCAY ,

2. JOHN GUANZON ,

3. JUNMAR GALEOS ,

4. ROGER POLO,

5. ARJIE MACARRA,

6. JOJIE VILLANUEVA

7. FELIPE QUEBEN JR

Suarez said that in a statement by one of the rescued crew members, the barge was loaded with nickel ore while in transit from Tubay. The captain was forced to abandon the ship after the anchor was broken by Typhoon Bising's massive waves.

The cargo ship is owned by Harold Tan of the Inter East Shipping and Lighterage Corporation.