Boat catches fire off Cebu; 6 dead

MANILA, Philippines — Six people died and six others were rescued when a fishing boat caught fire in the waters off Naga City in  Cebu on Wednesday.

Ensign Abel Lomboy, information officer of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Central Visayas, identified the fatalities as Boy Boy Bacolod, 29; Ariel Codilla, 37; Jonathan Sullano, 34; Onjing Conel, 41; Dominic Cleret, 18, and Joseph Sullano.

The boat captain, Mark Anthony Sullano, and fishermen John Cloud Canones, 20; Alan Aviles, 18; Michael Bacas, 34; Miguel Cortes, 32; and Alvin Quinones, 21, were rescued.

The bodies of two of the victims were found in the area, one suffered third degree burns and three others were initially reported missing when responding PCG members arrived at the scene.

In an interview over dzRH yesterday, PCG-Central Cebu commander Capt. Jerome Lozada cited Sullano’s statement that the engine of the boat malfunctioned, but could not determine if there was an explosion.

The boat departed from Cawayan, Masbate and was on its way to Daanbantayan town when the accident occurred.

Lomboy said the PCG received a fire alarm at 8:25 p.m. The fire was put out at 9:30 p.m.