BATANGAS CITY – Two crew members died and a colleague is missing in a fire that hit a tanker vessel in the sea of Batangas on Sunday morning, October 22.
The names of the victims were withheld.
A crew survived the incident and was identified as John Michael Alamansa, 26, Barangay Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City. Alamansa was rescued by fishermen who found him floating on the sea.
The Philippine Coast Guard-Sub-station Batangas said Almansa suffered burns on almost half of his body.
One of the fatalities was retrieved in front of MV Tanker-Sea Horse while another was found floating at sea.
PCG-Batangas said the tanker vessel caught fire at Alpha Anchorage Area one nautical mile away from the port of Batangas around 9 a.m.
Three tugboats with firefighting capability – Motor Tug Great Lark, Motor Tug Sedar 7, and Motor Tug Sedar 8 – near the scene promptly assisted the stranded ship.
The Bureau of Fire Protection and PCG controlled the fire and declared fire out at 11:08 a.m.
The PCG said the Marine Environmental Protection Group-Batangas coordinated with Petron for a standby oil spill boom in preparation for possible oil spill response.
The tanker vessel was loaded with an undetermined amount of fuel but the PCG said they are prepared for any possible oil spill.
Initial investigation by the BFP-Batangas City said there was an explosion on the main deck of the tanker vessel near the pilot's house.
Further investigation on the incident is ongoing.