Maria Matilde
The 73.5 meter long, 422 dwt ro-ro ferry Maria Matilde struck the island of Tablas, Philippines. The ferry had departed from Odiongan bound for Romblon Island with 251 passengers. The ferry was in heavy rain as it passed through the Tablas Strait and struck a large rock formation off Tablas Island. The bow of the ferry sustained severe damage above the waterline. Reports state 87 passengers sustained injuries with several having major injuries. The injured were taken to Romblon by rescuers for treatment. Four vehicles sustained damage by the impact.
There are multiple and conflicting reports to the cause of the incident. One report states the vessel had suffered steering failure while another states an error with the navigation system resulted in the allision. All accounts state visibility was limited due to the heavy rains. The Philippine Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.
