ALL the 120 passengers and crew members of a passenger vessel that caught fire off Panglao town in Bohol yesterday morning have been rescued, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
The PCG said 65 passengers and 55 crew members were aboard the ill-fated MV Esperanza Star, which is operated by the Kho Shipping Company. The Bohol provincial risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO) said the vessel had 72 passengers and 60 crew members.
The PCG said the vessel, skippered by Captain Desiderio Labiste Jr., was en route to the port of Tagbilaran City, also in Bohol, from the Port of Lazi town in Siquijor, when the fire broke out at around 3:55 a.m.
PCG vessels were deployed to rescue the passengers and crew members and put out the fire. The PCG said the fire was put out at around 10 a.m.
The PCG said all those onboard were “safe,” based on information received from the PCG District Central Visayas.
The PCG said a thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
Anthony Damalerio of the Bohol PDRRMO said the fire broke out in a hallway near the engine room, based on the statement of one of the crew members.
Damalerio said the vessel was scheduled to arrive at the port of Tagbilaran City at around 4:30 a.m.
“It’s under investigation by the Philippine Coast Guard,” Damalerio said of the cause of the fire. “I talked to one of the crew members who said it started outside the engine room, the hallway leading to the engine room.”
Damalerio said four to five fishing boats were the first to arrive at the scene to rescue the passengers and crew members. He said a transiting passenger vessel, MV TransAsia 19, and a PCG vessel arrived later.
“We would like to report that all 72 passengers and 60 crew members are accounted for,” said Damalerio.
On its Facebook page, Kho Shipping Lines (KSL) thanked the PCG, MV TransAsia 19 and fisherfolks for responding to the distress call.
“All crew and passengers were immediately rescued to safety, being taken care of and all accounted for,” KSL said.
“Functional fire suppression systems long installed at the vessel such as CO2, fire hydrants, sprinkling system and others immediately (were) activated to put off (the) fire and avert further damages to the vessel,” it added.
