Passenger Vessel Runs Aground Off Occidental Mindoro; 80 Passengers Rescued

A passenger vessel ran aground after midnight on Thursday near Sitio Sigman in Barangay Udalo, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, local disaster management officials said. The shipping company of the distressed vessel Roromaster 5 had initially reported that the grounded ship was carrying 80 passengers and 24 rolling cargo units from Monte de Vida port to Manila. All passengers and crew were safely rescued after the incident. The shipping company initially reported hull damage, but the cause of the grounding is still under investigation.