Technical divers to help in rescue ops for victims of Cebu sea tragedy

Technical divers are on their way to Cebu to help in search-and-rescue operations for passengers of a ship that sank after colliding with a cargo vessel Friday night.

A group of technical divers, who have sophisticated equipment and are trained to last longer underwater, was to fly to Cebu in the afternoon, radio dzBB reported.

On the other hand, the Coast Guard deployed the BRP Pampanga search-and-rescue vessel to Cebu to help in the operations.

Coast Guard vice commandant for operations Rear Admiral Luis Tuason Jr. noted in a radio interview earlier that technical divers are trained to last longer underwater than other divers.

As of Saturday noon, the death toll from the sinking of the MV Saint Thomas Aquinas 1 stood at 28, with more than 200 still missing.

The MV Saint Thomas Aquinas 1 collided night with the cargo vessel MV Sulpicio Express 7.

The Coast Guard said it will start an investigation into the incident once search-and-rescue operations are completed. — LBG, GMA News