At least 20 crew members were reported missing after a cargo ship carrying nickel ore and about 2,000 liters of diesel ran aground off the southern Philippine province of Surigao del Norte.
The cause was not immediately known, but the weather was rough in the area due to Typhoon Surigae, which brought winds that reached 195 km per hour.
The Philippine Coast Guard said the crew of LCT Cebu Great Ocean were “nowhere to be found and allegedly missing” when the ship drifted and became grounded on the shore of Cantapoy in Malimono in Surigao del Norte on Monday afternoon.
Search and rescue operations for the crew resumed on Tuesday after a temporary suspension due to poor visibility and rough seas.
At least two people died, one was missing and another injured, mostly in communities hit by strong winds due to the typhoon, while tens of thousands remain in evacuation centers, disaster officials said on Tuesday.
In the Bicol region, more than 109,000 people were evacuated to emergency shelters as a precaution.
As of late Tuesday, April 20, the weather bureau said typhoon Surigae is likely to remain offshore for the rest of its stay inside the Philippine area of responsibility.
It was able to maintain its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center with a gustiness of up to 215 kph.
It was last spotted 395 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, and has started to pick up its pace, moving north at of 15 kph.
Despite being offshore, the typhoons trough and wide diameter meant that areas east of Luzon would still get some rainfall and winds.
By Wednesday evening, Surigae is expected to be 335 km east of Aparri in Cagayan. After that, it is still forecast to start its recurve towards the Pacific Ocean. – with report from Reuters
Source: Licas Philippines
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