MANILA, Philippines – The worst fears of authorities were confirmed Tuesday as Navy and Coast Guard divers saw the bodies of several passengers still trapped inside MV Princess of the Stars that capsized off Romblon.
In an interview on dzBB radio, Philippine Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said the bodies were seen when divers had their first look inside the ship at 9 a.m.
"Nakalutang ang karamihan na bangkay sa loob. Sila ay na-trap sa biglang pagtaob, so nakulong (Most of the bodies were floating inside. They were trapped when the ship suddenly tilted and capsized)," Arevalo said.
Arevalo said that while some of the passengers could have survived initially, they could have likewise succumbed to conditions before rescuers could reach them.
He noted that sea conditions continue to be rough and, in fact, continues to pose difficulties in ongoing search and rescue operations.
"Di natin kasalanan yan, ang turbulent seas hanggang ngayon hina-hamper ang operation natin (That is no longer our fault. The seas were too turbulent. Up to now the turbulence is interfering with our operations)," Arevalo said.
When asked about the chances of survivors still inside, he would only say, "I don’t want to speculate," adding it was too dark to see how many bodies there were inside.
Arevalo said their priority now is how to extricate the bodies found thus far either by attaching weights on the bodies then pulling them out, or cutting the hull to get to the bodies.
He said another problem is how to preserve the bodies.
Arevalo said that while some of the bodies had life vests, "it seems the passengers hesitated from jumping in turbulent waters" because "it happened too sudden."
"(With the life vests) you will survive for a few hours. In due time mauubos ang hangin (but in time, the air will also run out)," Arevalo said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard said it was going to open anytime Tuesday the hull of the MV Princess of the Star to check for possible survivors and bodies inside the ship.
“They will try to cut a hole on the hull, weather permitting, today. We have sent additional Coast Guard divers to support all other divers now prepositioned in the area," said Capt. Gilbert Rueros, a Coast Guard representative, said in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
Rueros said there have been no major development on the figures of casualties and survivors from the ship operated by Sulpicio Lines. Authorities have reported at least 20 deaths and at least 62 survivors.
The ship was carrying 849 passengers and crew when it capsized.
Rueros said a Coast Guard board of inquiry has began looking into the incident last Monday. It said the board is going to resume hearing on Wednesday.
For his part, NDCC spokesman Anthony Golez said: “We have no development as to the numbers (of casualties and survivors) but in terms of search and rescue operations, its continuing. In fact, the number of those helping the Coast Guard, which is the incident commander in the area, are increasing."
He said the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection are helping in the rescue efforts.
In the briefing, Arevalo said they are checking reports about the recovery of 18 survivors, two of them in critical condition, and two fatalities in Burias Island. He said the report was intercepted by the Navy through radio.
Arevalo said initial efforts to verify the information has not yielded positive results. He said a Navy ship on the way to Sibuyan island may be diverted to Burias island.
Arevalo also said a US Navy rescue ship already arrived at the vicinity of Sibuyan island Tuesday morning to assist in ongoing search and rescue. He said the Americans are also employing two surveillance aircraft to augment the search and rescue efforts.
A statement from the AFP’s Southern Luzon Command said the US Navy ship under Commodore Bradley Smith arrived in Sibuyan Island – which is located 17-20 miles from the wreckage – around 5:30 a.m.
The statement added that around noon on Tuesday, Smith proceeded to the town hall of San Fernando, Romblon to get a briefing on the search and rescue operations.
Coordination between Philippine and US rescue teams are being conducted for the rescue efforts, the statement said.
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