It took 10 hours before firefighters finally put out the fire that razed MV Diamond Highway, a vehicle carrier, off Lapu Lapu City, Cebu on Friday, April 28.

 
(Courtesy of PCG)

The fire that started around 2 p.m. Friday was declared out by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Cebu at 12:35 a.m. Saturday, April 29, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). 

“Per inquiry to MV Diamond Highway’s Operations Manager, Mr. Arnel Villaganas, the fire started from the starboard bow while cutting the vessel's scrap metals,” the PCG said.

The vessel was undergoing salvage operation in Brgy. Punta Engaño after it ran aground in Cebu during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette 2021 when it suddenly went up in flames.

“MV Diamond Highway’s salvage operation [was] for disposal, not repair,” said PCG communications officer Diane Gumatay.

Fortunately, no one got hurt during the incident since all of the 23 personnel conducting scrap operation onboard safely disembarked from the vessel.

Further investigation was conducted to determine the cause of fire. 

However, initial investigation reportedly showed that some of the survivors were dismantling the vessel when acetylene accidentally spilled on paint which sparked the fire.