A CARGO vessel caught fire in Talisay City, Cebu yesterday morning, leaving a crew member dead, three injured, and 16 safely rescued.
The Philippine Coast Guard identified the fatality as Nelson Polverosa, 62, the chief engineer of the ill-fated M/V General Romulo, a domestic vessel owned by the Lorenzo Shipping Corp.
Citing initial investigation, PCG Cebu Commander Capt. Alvin Dagalea said the vessel caught fire at around 9:40 a.m. while anchored off Talisay City. Dagalea said the ship’s captain declared abandon ship at around 10 a.m.
The PCG Central Office in Manila said the PCG Sub-Station Talisay and the Talisay City Bantay Dagat responded to the scene to put out the fire and evacuate the dead and the injured.
The fire was declared under control at around 2 p.m., said Dagalea.
Dagalea said the vessel, homeported in Manila, was loaded with “various cargoes from Manila and (was) scheduled to dock at Cebu City port” when the accident occurred.
PCG communications officer Joy Gumatay said the fire was caused by an explosion in one of the vessel’s pipes.
“Based on the initial investigation, the cause of the incident was an explosion. The PCG team (of investigators) is still identifying the particular pipe that exploded,” said Gumatay.
Gumatay said 19 of the ship’s crew members, including the three injured, have been extricated shortly after the fire broke out.
But he said the body of Polverosa was still onboard the ship as of yesterday afternoon. She said rescuers were not able to immediately retrieve the fatality’s remains “due to the magnitude of fire prevailing on the vessel.”
