Off Biliran Island seas: Yacht burns after engine explodes; 9 crew saved

CEBU, Philippines - Nine crew members were rescued from a yacht that caught fire, after its engine explodes, off Culaba town in Biliran province yesterday afternoon.

Earlier radio reports said the incident occurred at about 12:30 p.m., with the crew quickly sending a distress call. There were no passengers on board the boat, except for the captain and his crew, the police said.

Superintendent Lito Bigoy, director of the Biliran Provincial Police, told The Freeman that the crew abandoned the yacht, which was still burning at sea as of 5 p.m.

Bigoy said the nine crewmen were all safe, after fishermen from Barangay Pinamihagan of Caibiran town in Biliran saved them. They were taken at the Rural Health Unit in Culaba for treatment of minor injuries or bruises.

Those rescued were identified as: Captain Ronald Salmoren, 43, a native of Davao City and his eight crew; Chief Mate Gregorio Booc, 46, of Lapu-Lapu City; Chief Engineer Neil Abatayo, 43, of Talisay City in Cebu; electrician Eugene Orge, 34, of Cebu City; apprentices on board (A/B) Melody de San Jose, 34, of Antique province and Joel Sotomayor, 33, of Bohol; oilers Manny Azul of Bataan and James Sotomayor, 23, of Bohol; and cook/steward John Adrian, 23, of Quezon City.

Bigoy clarified that the yacht belonged to Lobenico Incorporated, a private firm, and not to Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, as earlier reported. The origin and destination of the boat was still being determined.

The police official said initial investigation showed that the cause of the fire was an overheated engine, when its fuel pipe clogged to cause it to explode. (FREEMAN)