36 die as board capsizes off Ormoc City

ORMOC CITY (PNA) – Thirty-six persons were confirmed dead and 21 others went missing after a passenger vessel capsized off the water of Ormoc past noon on Thursday.M/V Nirvana, with about 180 passengers, was making a maneuver just 800 meters away from the Ormoc port when rough seas broke its outrigger and caused the vessel to flip over, according to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Ormoc District Commander Pedro Tinampay.The PCG Ormoc station reported that 129 passengers have been rescued. Some were brought to different hospitals in Ormoc.About 21 passengers remained missing as of 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Tinampay said.The boat, with 178 seating capacity left Ormoc port for Pilar town in Camotes Island east of Cebu province around 1:15 p.m.The vessel, owned by Joge Zarco, is manned by boat captain Warren Oliverio and 16 crew members.All passengers were wearing life vest when inspected by the Coast Guard personnel, but they took it off when the vessel departed the port.Rescue operation is now ongoing led by PCG and the local government of Ormoc. (PNA)RMA/SQM/FELIX N. CODILLA AND PFN