3 die, 72 rescued as fire hits vessel

TUBIGON, Bohol, Philippines – Three people died and 72 others were rescued when a fast craft en route to Cebu City from this town caught fire on the Lauis Ledge off the coast of Talisay City, Cebu late yesterday morning.

The ill-fated vessel was identified as M/V Island Fast Craft 1, which plies the Tubigon-Cebu route.

The bodies of the three fatalities and the rest of the passengers and crew were pulled off the water by the crew of M/V Sea Jet fast craft of Aleson Shipping Lines, which was en route to Tubigon from Cebu.

The survivors were brought to the Tubigon Community Hospital.

The two female fatalities were identified as Citas Cabrera and Mathea Infiesto. 

The third fatality was identified as the vessel’s chief mate, Abelardo Tordillas, 57, of Tagbilaran, Bohol.

A source told The Freeman that a total of 63 people were brought to the hospital.

The Bohol Emergency Communication System based in Tagbilaran City said it received a report that a vessel from Lite Shipping and some fishermen helped save the other passengers.

A total of 60 adults, four children, and an infant along with seven members of the crew were rescued.

The ill-fated vessel was owned by Island Shipping Corporation.

The ship reportedly caught fire at around 10:50 a.m.

On the initial inquiry of Captain Camillo Depalobos, master of the M/V Sea Jet, which rescued the passengers, the incident was allegedly caused by an electrical fire coming from the engine room.

Through a radio message, Coast Guard Aduana was then directed to conduct a search on the area.

In the official report of the Philippine Coast Guard stated that the vessel sunk at about 2 p.m.

The PCG also said that there are no traces of oil spill.

The Bureau of Fire and Protection was informed by the Talisay Fire Station around 11:20 a.m. about the ship fire, said SFO1 Roald Nuez.

Nuez told The FREEMAN that they then relayed the information to the Philippine Coast Guard.

“Wala mi pwede matabang kay naa man sa dagat gadagan so among gi-dial ang hotline 117 to reach the PCG,” Nuez said.

In a separate interview with Chona Cabilan, sister-in-law of Tordillas, she said that they still don’t have all the information.

She, however, confirmed that Tordillas was indeed among the fatalities.

“Duna may taga-amo nga nakasakay sa barko ang giingon niya nga mao na patay lagi,” Cabilan said.

Commander Rolando Punzalan of the Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu Station said that they are still conducting further investigation on the incident.—/NLQ (FREEMAN)