PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) investigators are conducting a probe to determine what caused last Saturday’s fire that broke out in a passenger vessel that has been grounded in Cebu since last December.
PCG communications officer Joy Gumatay said “the cause of the fire remains undetermined” as of yesterday afternoon.
The VM Trans Asia 1 caught fire at around 2 a.m. last Saturday off Barangay Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, injuring two crewmembers. The fire was put out 13 hours later.
Citing the result of the initial investigation, Gumatay said the fire broke out at the passenger economy area.
She said crewmembers were forced to “abandon the ship when the fire became uncontrollable.”
Gumatay said a PCG team “continuously monitors the vessel” after the fire.
The vessel ran aground in the area in December last year during the onslaught of typhoon Odette.
The PCG said seven crewmembers and a security guard were posted in the vessel after the December mishap to ensure equipment and materials will not be stolen.
