Bad weather in Cebu: Boy drowns, passengers stranded in ports, airport

Local

A 17-YEAR-OLD boy drowned in Minglanilla, Cebu, while 55 passengers were stranded at various ports as rough seas disrupted maritime travel in Cebu and Bohol on Monday, Aug. 10.

The Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas (PCG-7) said 17 trips were suspended because of hazardous sea conditions.

Nine vessels and 318 motorized bancas also took shelter.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Aug. 9, a teenager drowned while swimming with two other minors in the coastal waters off Barangay Tungkop in Minglanilla.

Initial reports from the Minglanilla Police Station said huge waves swept the three minors away.

The two others were rescued conscious, while the 17-year-old was recovered unconscious and brought to Minglanilla District Hospital, where he later died.

In response, Minglanilla Mayor Lheslen Enad-Abella ordered the temporary suspension of all swimming activities along the coastlines of Barangays Tungkop, Tungkil and Calajoan.

The municipal government also coordinated with the Philippine National Police to enforce the closure.

“Kahibaw ko nga daghan sa ato ang ganahan mag-enjoy ug maligo sa dagat, especially during weekends. Pero karon, safety first gyud ta (I know a lot of us want to enjoy and swim in the sea, especially on weekends. But for now, safety first),” Abella-Enad said.

The southwest monsoon, or habagat, has also contributed to the hazardous conditions affecting Cebu and other parts of the Visayas, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Visayas station.

Monday’s weather was mainly due to localized thunderstorms, which were intensified by the habagat.

“We’re experiencing moderate to strong winds, up to 3.1 meters in height… It’s specially risky for small sea vessels, that’s why we discouraged them from venturing out into the sea,”

Pagasa-Mactan chief weather forecaster Jhomer Eclarino said.

On Monday, officials at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) confirmed that a total of eight flights have been impacted by the bad weather.

The affected routes were Cebu–Caticlan/Boracay, Cebu–El Nido, and Cebu–Cagayan de Oro.

Several passengers have also been left stranded at the airport, with some reportedly waiting for updates on their flights for two days already.

In northern Cebu, huge waves battered the motorbanca FBCA Divine Mercy while it was sailing off Madridejos town on Sunday.

No one was injured, and all those aboard were safe and accounted for, the PCG-7 said.

The coast guard likewise urged the public to avoid sea travel and other activities in coastal areas while hazardous sea conditions persist.(RBE)