Two injured after cargo launch catches fire in Southern Philippines

Two people were injured after their vessel caught fire while in port in Surigao Del Norte province in the Southern Philippines on Saturday, August 10.

The master of the motor launch Jenua-2 said that the incident at the province’s Hayanggabon port occurred at around 04:45 local time when sparks from the engine’s starting battery came in direct contact with some of the vessel’s cargo of petrol totaling 20,000 litres. This then caused an explosion and a fire which threatened to consume the entire vessel.

The Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, and some local private mining companies immediately despatched fire and rescue teams to the scene to render assistance to the crew of the stricken launch, which was approximately 300 metres from shore when the blaze erupted.

The coast guard said the fire on Jenua-2 was extinguished by early afternoon. Two of the vessel’s seven crewmembers suffered minor burns and were rushed to hospital.

No pollution was reported despite the damage sustained by the launch.

The incident remains under investigation.