UPDATE 1 - Phil Navy sends divers to Ormoc City

Philippine Navy in Cebu sent off personnel to Ormoc City capsized motor banca incident.

File photo of Lt. James Reyes, spokesperson Naval Forces Central (Navforcen)

Lt. James Reyes, spokesperson of the Naval Forces Central  (PN-Navforcen) based here in Cebu City, immediately deployed a vessel to Ormoc City with five divers.

"The divers will be sent to the area where MB Nirvna sank.  But along the way to Ormoc City, they will search the area for anybody who was caught in the current," Reyes said.

MB Nirvana reportedly capsized a few minutes after leaving the port of Ormoc City bound for Pilarr town Camotes Island already under the Province of Cebu.

Photo by Ronald Canopio, protocol officer of former #Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia 

According to Poro Municipal Councilor Agosto Zurita, who happens to be at the port area, the boat was about to turn and face Pilar when it capsized upside down.

It had listed 173 passengers along with loads involving sacks of rice.
VIDEO
RESCUE video of MB Nirvana

As of press time 38 were recovered dead while 60 were rescued.  They were brought to Ormoc Doctors Hospital and Ormoc Sugarcane Planters Association- Farmers Medical Center (OSPA-FMC).

This is the first sea tragedy involving mostly Cebuanos for this year. (fcc//PIA7-Cebu)

BREAKING NEWS: Big waves sank motor banca bound for Pilar Camotes from Ormoc City port this noon.

CEBU CITY, July 2 (PIA)— Big waves sank motorbanca bound for Pilar Camotes from Ormoc City this noon carrying 173 passengers.

Photo of the capsized banca taken by Ronald Canopio, Protocol Officer of former #Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Agosto Zurita, Muicipal Counilor of Poro, Camotes in an interview with PIA-Cebu said MB Nirvana left the port of Ormoc City at 12:12 noon today bound for Pilar, Camotes Island.

Zurita was in Ormoc for business matters and was just at the port during the incident.

It accordingly was leaving the port with rear first and just as it was about to swerve its front to face Pilar, it eventually pivoted and capsized on its back a hundred meters away.

“Majority of the passengers were adults and there were about 30 who were minors,” Zurita said.

Initial rescuers were the town policemen and firemen, Philippine Coast Guard personnel and some medical team.

As of press time 34  bodies were retrieved and around 60 were rescued.  These were brought to Ormoc Doctors Hospital and Ormoc Sugarcane Planters Association –Farmers Medical Center (OSCA-FMC). 

"Ang pag rescue mano mano lang gyud, di ta makaingon nga hi tech, (The rescuing was only manual and not high tech)," Zurita said.

Pilar is one of the four towns of Camotes island,  Other towns include Poro, Madridejos and Tudela.(fcc with reports from Mariel Torres, Palompon Institute of Technology intern/PIA7-Cebu)