I got worried when a friend’s Facebook status said MV Asia Malaysia has declared abandon ship so I immediately logged in and checked the news. The passenger ship operated by Trans-Asia Shipping Lines was from Cebu bound for Iloilo so there could be somebody I know on-board. Thankfully, the 107 passengers and 35 crew members were all safe.
According to news, the ship tilted on its right side four nautical miles off Calabasa Island in Ajuy, Iloilo which is also near Cadiz City in Negros Occidental. After the ship captain issued a distress signal and abandon-ship order shortly before 6 a.m and eventually sank at around 8:50am.
The passengers were rescued by ships and boats near the area who responded to the distressed call. The ship captain and crew should be lauded for staying behind until all the passengers were safely transferred to the other ships. Those who were rescued by MV Filipinas Cebu were brought to Iloilo City while those rescued by MT Fil Visayas were brought to Bacolod City.
