Samar fishermen survive from capsized boat incident

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Dec. 15 (PNA) – A father and his son-in-law survived a sea tragedy when typhoon “Nona” ravaged Samar Island on Monday.

Rogelio Galecio, 45 and Japeth Picorro, 22, both residents of Bacjao village Almagro, Samar, ventured to sea despite typhoon threats. Almagro is around three hours boat travel from this city.

In an interview, Galecio said that they left Calbayog around 8:30 a.m. on Monday aboard a motorized banca. Samar was already under public storm warning signal no. 3 when they left, but they just ignored the advisory because the weather was normal, according to Galecio.

But when they get to the middle of the sea, they were met by big and rough waves and strong winds that turned their boat upside down. Galecio said the big waves and strong sea current separated them.

“I was at sea floating for almost 12 hours, I used a plastic container as my lifesaving device and tried my best to swim and survive. It was already around 9:30 in the evening on Monday when I reached the seashore of Rawis village in Calbayog City,” Galecio recalled.

Galicio sustained minor injuries and now confined at the Calbayog General Hospital.

Meanwhile, his son-in-law Japeth Picorro, who was first declared missing, was seen floating and tied to the capsized boat around 10 a.m. Tuesday near the shoreline of Tomaligues village, Tinambacan District Calbayog.

Japeth was also brought to the hospital for check-up but was not confined.

Meanwhile, Samar provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer Van Torrevillas said that no reported casualty or major damage in the entire province due to “Nona.”

Power for the entire first district of Samar was normally restored noontime Tuesday. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and Samar Electric Cooperative said that power lines were not heavily affected by the typhoon. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/JENNIFER SUMAGANG – ALLEGADO