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Basilan town mayor, 9 others hurt in Zamboanga boat fire

Philippines | Luzon

Basilan town mayor, 9 others hurt in Zamboanga boat fire

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A town mayor from Basilan province and nine others were injured when the speedboat they were riding caught fire shortly after leaving a private wharf in Barangay Baliwasan on Wednesday.

BASILAN SPEEDBOAT.jpg

NANOH'S ill-fated speedboat.

Zamboanga City Fire District Marshal Supt. Leo Pioquinto said the fire broke out at around 5:02 p.m., just minutes after the vessel departed the wharf.

Among those injured was Hadji Muhtamad Mayor Arsina Nanoh, who sustained burn injuries. The other injured passengers included a police escort, staff members, and family relatives of the mayor. All were brought to a nearby hospital.

Police Staff Sgt. Munar Salawi, one of Nanoh’s police escorts, told a local radio station that the fire erupted roughly 10 meters from the wharf after a spark from the engine ignited the vessel.

“We managed to save the mayor and the children and immediately jumped overboard,” Salawi recounted, adding that their personal belongings, including service firearms, were lost in the fire.

Salawi said there were around 15 people onboard the speedboat, which was powered by two 250-horsepower outboard engines.

Due to security concerns, speedboats are a common mode of transport for local officials traveling between Basilan and Zamboanga City.

Pioquinto estimated the damage at around P1 million.

Investigators have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, which was fully extinguished by firefighters at around 5:29 p.m.

Related Tags

Mayor Arsina Nanoh Zamboanga City Hadji Muhtamad Fire incident Basilan

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