Master divers needed to rescue Surigao ferry passengers

Surigao Gov. Lyndon Barbers on Sunday appealed to master divers to help in search-and-rescue operations for at least 16 passengers still missing from the sinking of a motor ferry on Saturday. Barbers said at least two officials – town Mayor Arlene Navarro and Burgos town councilor Agustin Espanto -- are among those missing. "Our divers can dive only up to 100 meters underwater. We need diver masters with tanks that contain not only oxygen but also helium and compressed air so they can dive deeper," he said in an interview on dzRH radio Sunday morning. As of 8 a.m. Sunday, Barbers said 14 passengers had been confirmed dead, 64 had been rescued and 16 more remain missing. Coast Guard authorities and Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Cassura earlier said only 55 passengers had been rescued and eight others remain missing. Barbers said bad weather conditions forced local authorities to suspend rescue operations Saturday night. They resumed operations 4 a.m. Sunday. Mayor Navarro's Del Carmen town faced virtual isolation after the sinking of a ferry, according to Surigao City Mayor Cassura. "Yung sa Del Carmen siguro walang byahe muna ngayon (It looks like there will be no trips by sea to and from Del Carmen for now) ... Unfortunately the MB Leonida was the only trip," Cassura said in an interview on dzXL radio. Del Carmen is a fifth-class municipality in Surigao del Norte province. The 2000 census indicates it has a population of 13,558 people in 2,598 households. As of early Sunday morning, Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Coyme an investigation is now underway to see if the ferry was overloaded when it sank. "Malalaman natin iyan (We’ll know soon enough)," he said when asked if there were violations of maritime laws. He said local fishermen ave been helping authorities look for the missing passengers. Mayor Navarro, wife of former Surigao del Norte Rep. Constantino Navarro, is still listed among those missing as of Sunday morning. Local newspapers Sunday morning cited unverified reports that Mayor Navarro was among those rescued. A Board of Marine Inquiry has been convened to determine culpability in the mishap. Initial information showed that the owner of the ferry is from Surigao City. The Philippine Coast Guard has remained silent on the incidentm however. Radio station dzRH reported Sunday the Coast Guard had a "gentleman’s agreement" with Cassura that only the mayor will be authorized to speak to media about the incident. No reason was given for the arrangement. According to Cassura, investigation showed the weather was fine and visibility was clear, but that strong waves rocked the ferry. "Naputol ang outrigger ... nakita ko malaki ang alon. Kalmante ang tao noong sumakay. They were navigating for one hour already (The outrigger of the ferry was separated because of the strong waves. The passengers had no idea this would happen. They were already navigating for an hour when the waves struck)," he said. The ferry reportedly sank off Bilisan Point in Hinatuan Island at about 2:20 p.m. Saturday. Many of the vessel’s passengers were students who had attended a secondary school conference in Surigao City. Port authorities suspect that the vessel was overloaded with cargo, mostly personal belongings and 300 sacks of cement aside from passengers. - GMANews.Tv