Ferry crashes into cargo ship and injures dozens of passengers
This is the terrifying moment a ferry smashed into a cargo ship in the Philippines.
Footage taken by passengers on board the ferry shows it slowly approaching the enormous vessel, stacked high with shipping containers, in the waters near Cebu on Sunday.
They were violently jolted and desperately held onto their seats as the enormous ships slammed into each other.
The ferry reportedly experienced an engine failure and drifted into the cargo ship’s path as it passed under the Sergio Osmena bridge.
Officials said more than 35 of the 208 passengers suffered minor injuries, but everyone was safely evacuated.
Naveen Isnardo Bharwani said: ‘It was really scary. It happened so suddenly. We were almost thrown off our seats.’
Rescue boats and the coast guard towed the ferry to a pier where injured passengers were given first aid and taken to hospital.
Meanwhile, the cargo ship made a detour and returned to its port of origin in Mandaue City.
SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation, which owns the ferry, said: ‘We are conducting a thorough investigation of the incident with proper government agencies, and that additional safety measures and appropriate actions shall be undertaken to avoid the recurrence of this unfortunate incident.’
The Filipino coast guard said it would check the ferry’s seaworthiness while an oil spill assessment was conducted in the area.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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