Coast Guard rescues 18 people from sinking ferry

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard rescued 18 people from a small ferry after water broke into the hull off Basilan province, officials said Thursday.

Military photos released to the Zamboanga Post newspaper show the disabled ferry off Basilan province. The Coast Guard rescued 14 people from the vessel. 

Rear Admiral Toribio Adaci, Jr, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said they received a phone call early Wednesday from the owner of the vessel, Reymart Wee, in Sulu province asking for assistance. 

“Our naval forces immediately conducted lateral coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Police in Basilan province for the prompt rescue operation. We are elated that our counterpart from the PCG immediately responded to the area and rescued all four passengers and 14 crew members,” Adaci said. 

He said the ML Queen Shaima 3 was enroute to Zamboanga City from Luuk town when crew members noticed water sipping through a break in the hull and eventually flooded the engine room. 

It was unknown whether the ferry had permission to depart Sulu which is now under total lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic or if it has authorization to enter Zamboanga City. 

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan has barred travellers from Malaysia and lockdown his province to prevent the entry of the new strain of Covid-19 following the emergence of a new strain of the virus in Sabah.

Tan said he temporarily closed the province to civilians coming from Sabah to pre-empt the possible spread of the new Covid-19 strain. He said the lockdown began January 4 until January 17. Exempted from the travel restrictions are frontline health workers, security forces and emergency cases. 

Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco said she is also coordinating with the Western Mindanao Command and the Department of Health in putting up measures to prevent the entry of the new Covid-19 strain.

She asked local law makers to call for an emergency meeting to come up with a resolution for the temporary suspension of sea travels from Sabah to Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. 

City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite also appealed to residents to strictly comply with safety and health protocols, and avoid social gatherings due to the threat of the newCovid-19 variant. 

“With the detection of the new strain which appears to be more transmissible, we appeal to everyone to practice protocols and avoid social gatherings and be socially accountable and responsible for the safety of everyone,” Miravite said. 

Miravite said the local government is putting in place more stringent measures, including the travel of authorized persons outside residences, locally stranded individuals, and returning residents to prevent and contain the infection.

Just recently, authorities filed charges against a couple who entered Zamboanga illegally by boat from Tawi-Tawi. They also failed to present health documents to local authorities. (Zamboanga Post)

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