Tropical depression “Ester” maintained its strength Sunday as it moved away from the country toward Japan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. 

As of 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Ester was estimated at 340 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour (kph). Its speed accelerated to 17 kph in the north-northeast direction.

PAGASA isolated to three areas – the Batanes, Babuyan, and Calayan islands – Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1.

While Ester moves away, the cyclone will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon (habagat) and bring rains over Luzon and Visayas.

Occasional to frequent rains are expected in Luzon, while cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected in Visayas.

PAGASA alerted residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 and areas over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon and Western Visayas against possible flashfloods and landslides.

PAGASA also issued gale warning advisory for fishing boats and large sea vessels against strong winds and big waves associated with the surge of southwesterly surface wind flow (hanging habagat) enhanced by Ester.

“Strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the western seaboard of Luzon and Visayas,” it said.
It noted that wave heights over the seaboards of Luzon is expected to reach 3.7 to 5.0 meters, while wave heights over the seaboards of Visayas will likely reach 3.7 to 4.5 meters.

Ester is expected to be at 680 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes or at 90 km southwest of Okinawa, Japan on Monday.

BARGE WRECKS 5 SHANTIES, 8 BOATS

A non-propelled barge crashed into at least five shanties and eight motor bancas when big waves caused chaos along the shoreline of Navotas City the other night.

Captain Joselito de la Cruz, acting station commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station in Manila, said no one was reported hurt or injured in “freak minor maritime accident.”

De la Cruz said the barge, owned by Asian Shipping, was pushed by waves to the coastline of Sitio Davila Dulo, Barangay Navotas West around 7:30 p.m. and crashed into five houses on stilts and eight motorboats.

“As of now, we are trying to contact the owner of the barge and Asian Shipping which our men have yet to identify. No casualty was reported to date,” De la Cruz told Manila Bulletin in an interview Sunday morning.

He said the amount of damage caused by the barge is still being determined.

Initial investigation disclosed that the the barge was being towed toward an unknown direction but because of big waves, the vessel was carried off to the coastline.

CARGO SHIP MISSING

The PCG also received at least two distress calls from two different vessels – one of which was now reported missing – as tropical depression Ester lingered within the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo, spokesman of the PCG, Sunday told reporters that a search was underway for SF Freighter 498 GT and its crew of 17 after they lost contact with the ship.

He said the last message from the ship was last Saturday afternoon when the ship's captain informed them that the vessel, which was bound to Cebu City, had encountered an engine trouble while it was passing near Dos Hermanas Island in Marinduque province.

“Habang bumibiyahe ito mula sa Manila papuntang Cebu ay sinalubong ito ng malalaking alon. Ang huling information na natanggap natin ay nagkaroon na daw ito ng engine trouble,” Balilo said.

At least three ships had reportedly been scouring the area since the ship suddenly lost its contact to PCG.

Meanwhile, Balilo said they had already issued a Notice to Mariners which directs the shipping and fishing communities to help them search the ill-fated SF Freighter, owned by a certain Henden Chua of Seaford Shipping.

On the other hand, the PCG Action Center immediately coordinated for rescue efforts after receiving an alert that MT SP Beijing developed engine trouble while cruising at the vicinity of Cabra Island.

A similar alert was also received from other international Rescue Coordination Centers such as the Maritime and Ports Authority of Singapore, Korean Coast Guard, and Australian Search and Rescue relative to the same incident, said Balilo.

MT SP Beijing is a cargo vessel of 4,599 gross tons with 18 crew members onboard enroute to Indonesia from China when she encountered engine trouble and called for distress. (With a report from Leonard Postrado)