Fishing boat catches fire, sinks off Palawan

MANILA, Philippines — A fishing boat reportedly caught fire then sank in the waters off Cuyo Island in Palawan yesterday morning.

Initial information received by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) showed that two of the five crewmembers of the fishing boat Victory 89 suffered first degree burns.

The PCG said the fire started at around 4 a.m. The vessel sank at about 9:40 a.m.

Personnel of the PCG-Eastern Palawan and Cuyo police as well as fishermen from Frabelle Fishing Corp. helped put out the fire.

The PCG laid out oil spill booms in the area where the fishing boat sank in case of an oil slick.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.