6 dead, 1 in critical condition after Cebu fishing boat fire — PCG

Six people were killed after a fishing boat caught fire in the vicinity waters off Naga City in Cebu on Wednesday evening, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday.

In an update, the PCG said one person is in critical condition after sustaining third degree burns, while five other rescued survivors are in stable condition.

The PCG said it received a report at 8:25 p.m. Wednesday that FBCA King Bryan with 12 crew caught fire 1.5 nautical miles east of the nearest shoreline of Naga City.

The Coast Guard Substation Naga responded to the incident and initially recovered two cadavers, the PCG said.

Later on, four more cadavers were found under the debris of the fishing boat, according to the PCG.

According to GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak's Nikko Sereno on ''24 Oras,'' the fishing boat was still burning in the middle of the sea when a cargo vessel passed by it at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

The cargo vessel crew was the first to help the passengers and notified the PCG regarding the incident, who immediately responded to put out the fire and searched for the 12 people on board the boat.

Six of them were saved, including the captain.

Based on the initial investigation by the Coast Guard Substation Naga, the fishing banca sailed from Gilutongan Island.

According to the survivors, two engines in the fishing boat did not function.

The captain, meanwhile, said that it was their fallen colleagues who repaired the damaged engines.

He also insisted that they were carrying crude oil and LPG and not blasting materials.

The PCG is still investigating the cause of the explosion and who should be held responsible for the incident.

It is also being verified whether the fishing boat was registered. — Joviland Rita and Sherylin Untalan/KBK/RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News