2 killed, 104 rescued after RORO vessel sinks off Southern Leyte

(Updated 8:04 a.m.) At least two people were reported killed while 104 were rescued after a roll-on roll-off (RORO) vessel capsized and sank off Southern Leyte Saturday night.

Southern Leyte Governor Roger Mercado, in posts on his social media account, said the incident involving the "Maharlika 2" occurred at about 6 p.m. Saturday.

He said that as of 2:45 a.m. Sunday, at least two bodies were found while 104 survivors were accounted for.

Of the 104 survivors, 34 were aboard the MV Maharlika, 53 aboard the MT St. Martin, and 17 were aboard the MV Lara. The two bodies were aboard the MT St. Martin.

"(The) survivors are all brought to Lipata Terminal in Surigao. Requesting necessary support and assistance," he said.

Mercado said that at the time the vessel sank, there was no travel advisory in the province, but added the Southwest Monsoon is felt especially within the Panaon Island in Southern Leyte areas.

Citing initial information reaching him, he said the ferry was bound for Liloan from Lipata in Surigao when it sank at about 6:30 a.m., about 11 miles along San Ricardo in Southern Leyte.

He added there were only 58 passengers on the vessel's manifest.

A separate report by GMA News' Bam Alegre said an initial list of 29 survivors included:


Citing an initial Coast Guard report, Alegre said water entered the vessel as early as 3:30 p.m. while the vessel was five miles off Barangay Balong-balong in Pintuyan town.

This caused the vessel to capsize.

The report said that at the time, there were 68 passengers including two children and 31 crew members on board. All were reported to be wearing lifejackets.

It said, local rescue boats cannot proceed to the area where ill-fated vessel sank.

Coast Guard probe

In Manila, Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said their initial information showed the vessel was not overloaded but there was a discrepancy between the manifest and the actual number of people on board.

He said the Coast Guard may investigate the owner of the vessel for the discrepancy.

"Sabi ng crew, ang driver at pahinante ng trak [na sakay ng RORO] hindi nalagay sa manifest. Ang pagkaalam ko kahit driver at pahinante dapat sa manifest ka," Balilo said in an interview on dzBB radio.

"We'll get to the bottom of this," he added.

Balilo said the vessel had a capacity of 403, but while there were at least 104 survivors, only 58 passengers and 26 crew were on the manifest. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News