Monday, August 22, 2011

For survivors, a wait that felt like forever

JAKE Cabalan received yesterday the kind of phone call everyone dreads. A fast craft heading for Bohol, the Island Express I, was burning. And his wife and two-year-old daughter were on it.

A very nervous Cabalan rushed to Piers 1 and 3 in Cebu City to ask for help and wait for more news. His fear rose after he lost contact with his wife Myrna’s phone, shortly after she called him to report the trouble.

After several minutes of waiting, he received another call from his wife, saying they were rescued by the crew of the Sea Jet and were already safe.

 
“Mura kog naibtan sa kakuyaw pagkadungog nako nga safe na sila (I felt as though a thorn had been plucked from me),” he said. Cabalan’s wife and daughter were heading for Bohol to attend a relative’s death anniversary.

Like them, survivors of the Island Express I fast craft were thankful to the Sea Jet’s crew, who saved their lives.

One of the crew had to dive into the water to save a three-month-old baby, who fell from the burning vessel. The baby was safe.

Another passenger, Jesus Ceniza, arrived in Cebu City around 4 p.m. yesterday still badly shaken by his ordeal.

He did not join the other survivors who were staying in Tubigon, Bohol since he had to be in Cebu for work. He boarded another vessel from Bohol.

“Tanang survivors basa gyud kaayo mi kay kinahanglan mi molayat sa barko para makuha sa rescuers (We were all drenched because we had to jump from the boat in order to be rescued),” said Ceniza.

Ceniza said while the vessel was burning, they all stayed in the front deck, already wearing life jackets.

While waiting for some miracle to happen, he noticed another vessel approaching them from afar.

“Morag nawala gamay akong kakulba pagkakita nako nga naa’y barko padulong namo para masalbar mi (When I saw the other vessel approaching, a little of my fear disappeared),” he said.

He recalled that the crew of the Sea Jet instructed them to jump off the vessel, for them to be rescued.

“Sa wala’y pag duha-duha nilayat gyud ko para masalbar (I did not hesitate. I jumped),” he added.

He could not recall hearing any announcement from the vessel’s crew or any information about what was happening on the vessel.

“Late nami nakahibaw nga naay sunog, mao natong among nakit-an nga dako na diay kaayo ang kayo (We found out about the fire late; it was only when we saw the flames were already large),” he said.

Passengers of the Sea Jet said had they arrived a few minutes later, there would have been fewer survivors.

By: Jill B. Tatoy
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

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