Philippine rescue teams rescued all 120 people alive from a boat that caught fire off the central Philippine coast, the Southeast Asian country’s Coast Guard announced.
The ship “MV Esperanza Star” had 55 crew members and 65 passengers on board when it caught fire off the island of Panglao, according to information from the authorities cited by the Spanish news agency EFE.
All people on board were rescued by rescue boats and fishermen who were cruising in the area.
The 120 people were transported to the town of Tagbilaran, which was the ferry’s destination, for medical care, food and water, the Coast Guard said.
That unit also reported that “firefighting and rescue operations were continuing in response to a maritime incident involving a passenger and cargo ship.”
In videos and images shared by rescuers on social networks, the ship could be seen on fire and a thick cloud of smoke, while the Coast Guard fought the fire with a water cannon.
The cause of the accident is still unknown.
The fire reportedly started in the engine room and spread to the rear of the vessel, according to initial reports cited by the head of the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management office, Anthony Damalerio.
Incidents with cargo and passenger ships are not uncommon in the Philippines, due to the poor quality of shipping in the archipelago and overcrowded ferries.
At the end of March, a large fire on a ferry in the south of the country caused 30 deaths, including three children, saving 230 people.
Source: TSF
