Nöbetçi Eczaneler
By Mark ‘Crowley’ Russell
Fourteen people, including 11 divers and three crew, are still missing almost five days after the motor boat MBCA Amerjara capsized off Davao Occidental, a coastal province on the eastern side of the island of Mindanao, Philippines.
A large-scale operation conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard Search and Rescue teams is still underway, with 24 floating craft, two helicopters and one fixed-wing aircraft deployed, but so far, only one person has been rescued.
The rescued man, who was found at around 10.46 am local time on Tuesday morning, has been named as Christopher Bulig, a member of the boat’s crew.
A video showing the moment Bulig was rescued has been posted on social media by the Philippine Coast Guard of Southeastern Mindanao.
Initial reports on the boat’s route conflict, but the Philippine Coast Guard has since said in a statement that Amejara left Santa Ana Wharf in Davao City at around 8pm on the evening of Saturday, 17 January en route to the town of Governor Generosa on Davao Oriental, where it was expected to arrive on Monday 19.
In a press briefing on 22 January, Captain Noemie Cayabyab, a representative from the Philippine Coast Guard of Southeastern Mindanao said that the boat was forced to turn from its original heading due to high wind and waves, but while doing so, was hit by a large wave, which caused the boat to develop a severe list.
Cayabyab said the wave struck at around 4am, and some passengers were still ‘asleep in the second level of the boat’ at the time.
‘As they manoeuvred to make a turn, they were hit on the side of the boat by a wave, coupled with a strong gust of wind, and the boat listed on its side and began to sink,’ said Cyabyab.
‘There were some who were still underwater, so [the crew] were able to prioritise securing them before their gear and equipment.
‘There was an inflatable raft, but it was not secured to the boat so it fell off the boat and was swept away immediately.’
The audio is a little unclear but Cayabyab appears to say that ‘everyone was secured and able to [leave] the vessel.’ Bulig, the survivor, also told her that he saw other people had escaped the boat.
‘Some of the passengers were able to cling to floating debris, and they were able to group themselves,’ Ayabyab told the assembled media.
‘[Mr Bulig] decided to swim alone toward the shoreline, but due to the strong current, he became exhausted and spent the entire night of January 19 floating in the water.’
The Coast Guard has also confirmed that Bulig was found drifting in the waters off Sarangani.
Several reports surfaced indicating that the vessel left port without proper clearance, which has now been confirmed by Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao.
No specifics have been given as to the reason why it might have been prohibited from sailing, or why it sailed without clearance, but Cayabyab said that the Coast Guard was, for now, focused on the search and rescue operation ‘because time [was] of the essence.’
All pririty has been given to locating survivors, and operations have moved outside of the area the boat was first believed to have sunk.
‘We expanded our search area,’ she said. ‘We added floating assets and even aircraft, issued notice to mariners, and our coordination with the local government units is ongoing.’
Rumours circulating on the Internet about a lifejacket from Amerjara found floating off Sarangani have been dismissed by the Coast Guard and the boat’s owners, who say the lifejacket did not belong to them.
This is an ongoing news story and we will bring you updates as we receive them…
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