MV Jerlyn Khatness sinks, 1 dead, 1 missing

Twelve crew members were rescued while one person died and another remains missing after MV Jerlyn Khatness sank off the waters of Lavezares, Northern Samar on Monday, Dec. 30.

MV Jerlyn Khatness, carrying cement from Naga City, Cebu to San Jose, Northern Samar, was struck by huge waves around 2:30 p.m., causing it to capsize and sink.

A fisherman rescued three crew members near Barangay Lipata, Allen, prompting an immediate search-and-rescue operation involving the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and nearby vessels.

By morning on Dec. 31, a total of twelve crew members were rescued with assistance from Santa Clara Shipping Line and transported to a hospital for medical evaluation.

Late Tuesday, OCD confirmed that a 30-year-old crew member's body was recovered near Biri while the search continues for a 64-year-old missing crew member.

The PCG Northern Samar has deployed its personnel and search-and-rescue vessel RB-052 to locate the missing crew member with assistance from nearby vessels, municipal disaster risk reduction and management office, and Philippine Air Force.