22 Koreans rescued after ship loaded with minerals sinks off Cagayan

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Twenty-two Korean seafarers escaped with their lives in Cagayan after their ship loaded with tons of minerals sank on Thursday a few hours before the New Year, police said Friday. Chief Supt. Roberto Damian of the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here told GMANews.TV that 22 Koreans were found along the shoreline of Taggat Norte village at around 6 a.m. Friday after their ship capsized off Claveria town Thursday night. Damian said the Korean vessel Nam Yang carrying tons of mineral magnetite sank at about 9 p.m. Thursday due to unbalanced cargo weight. All crew members were able to abandon the ship using a life boat, he added. The Koreans were lucky to survive the rough waters of northern Luzon. It was the third major shipping mishap in the country this month, with the first two resulting in the deaths of dozens of holiday travelers. Mario Ancheta of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)- Mines and Geosciences Bureau meanwhile said that the magnetite carried by the sunken ship was properly documented, despite a mining ban on magnetite in the province. “We have certifications that no mining is taking place now in the province. The minerals on that ship were properly documented for transport," said Ancheta, adding that the tons of magnetite carried by the vessel were the last ones scheduled for shipping out of the country. The rescued Korean seafarers were identified as: Jon Ki Ung, Ho Chol Jon, Jong Su Ri, Chol Ho Pak, In Chol Jon, Chol Hwan Jong, Kun Sik Choe, Chol Ung Rim, Kwang Chol Jong, Chol Sun Han, Il Nam Jo, Hak Gwan An, Jong Song Chue, Tong Il Kim, Chul Il Pak, Chol Ho Kim, Kwang Su Choe, Man Jin Han, Hae Yong Ro, Jong Gil Jang, Tong Gun Kim and Yong Min Ham. Damian identified the captain of the vessel as Jon Ki Ung. The rescued seafarers will stay in a house in Taggat Norte village while authorities are investigating the sea mishap. - AC/HS, GMANews.TV