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Three fishermen were rescued from the Camotes Sea last Thursday after the passage of Typhoon Quinta while a fourth fisherman survived a swim back to shore in the town of Sogod, northern Cebu.
Arno, Arnel and Alden Argallon were rescued by the tanker MT Sumilon Island around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday after the fishing boat they were using capsized from strong winds and waves brought about by the typhoon, according to the Coast Guard.
The boat of another fisherman, Jose Alivio of Catmon, northern Cebu, also capsized in the Camotes Sea between mainland Cebu and the Camotes Islands.
Fortunately, Alivio was able to swim back to shore, according to the Office of Civil Defense.
Following the passage of Typhoon Quinta, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned that more typhoons are expected to batter the Philippines as the year closes.
Nathaniel Cruz, Pagasa weather services chief, said two to three more typhoons are expected before the New Year, based on averages from previous years.
The crew of the MT Sumilon Island told the Coast Guard that the vessel was on its way to Batangas with its cargo of copra when it passed through the Camotes Sea. There, the crew saw three people in the water waving for help.
The crew fished the Argallons from the sea and attended to their needs, but had to bring the three with them to Batangas, said Commander Antonio Cuasito.
The crew of MT Sumilon Island was able to contact the MV Tagbilaran Ferry, which informed the Coast Guard in Leyte of the fishermen’s condition, said Cuasito, chief of staff of the Coast Guard’s Central-Eastern Visayas district.
The Leyte Coast Guard later informed their counterparts in Cebu.
The Coast Guard in Cebu also reported that a cargo vessel, MV Lourdes, also carrying copra, ran aground in the Jilantagaan Islet, part of the Bantayan Group of Islands in northern Cebu.
The vessel had just left the town of Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island, when it took shelter in Jilantagaan from Typhoon Quinta.
In the towns of Bantayan and Poro, houses were reported damaged when trees toppled by the typhoon fell on them.
Power was also lost temporarily in several northern towns.
Cruz said Quinta was still within the country’s area of responsibility as of yesterday, but he expected the weather disturbance to move out last night.
Cruz also said the weather bureau was watching a shallow low pressure area forming around 440 kilometers east of Mindanao.
“There is a possibility that this formation can develop into a tropical depression. As long as it is over sea, there is a big chance for that,” Cruz said.
According to an update from Pagasa issued at 11 a.m. yesterday, Quinta intensified into a storm as it moved away from the country.
Its center was spotted 250 kilometers northwest of Coron, Palawan, packing winds between 65 to 80 kilometers per hour.
Pagasa has lowered all public storm signals all over the country. WITH A REPORT FROM THE INQUIRER
