Fire hits ship off Mindoro

An inter-island passenger ship caught fire while en route to Palawan from Manila Sunday morning although no one was hurt, the Coast Guard said.

The crewmen of MV SuperFerry 1 succeeded in putting out the fire after 15 minutes, the Coast Guard said.

The fire reportedly occurred in the tourist section on the ground deck. Faulty electric wiring was initially suspected as its cause, said LCdr. Joseph Coyme, Coast Guard spokesman.

Reports said SuperFerry 1 caught fire at about 10 a.m. in the vicinity of Cape Calaviti in Mindoro.

Sea marshals aboard the ship assisted in relocating the passengers to safer sections, while the crewmembers worked hard to promptly put out the fire.

The vessel resumed its trip to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan with all its passengers and crewmen safe and secure. — With Evelyn Macairan