Passenger-cargo vessel catches fire off Panglao, Bohol

A passenger-cargo vessel carrying around 120 passengers and crew members caught fire in the vicinity waters off Panglao, Bohol on Sunday morning, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The PCG said it carried out firefighting and rescue operations for MV Esperanza Star.

The distressed vessel, skippered by Captain Desiderio Labiste Jr., departed from Port of Lazi in Siquijor, for the Port of Tagbilaran in Bohol.

"At 3:55 a.m., the PCG Bohol Station received the distress call [from] MV Esperanza Star," Bohol Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Anthony Damalerio said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"First responders were fishing boats na nandoon sa area. About four to five fishing vessels and one shipping vessel... Nandoon naman ang PCG rescue boats," he added.

Personnel of the BRP Malamawi and the Coast Guard Sub-Station conducted the operations on the maritime incident.

The BRP Cape San Agustin of the PCG also helped put out the fire.

PCG District Central Visayas said "fire out" was declared at around 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, the BRP Cape San Agustin and BRP Malamawi remained at the site on Sunday as of 12 noon to monitor the burned vessel.

The PCG said it will conduct an investigation into the incident.

A crew member told Damalerio that the fire started outside the engine room.

"I talked to one of the crew. Ang sabi niya it started outside the engine room [nangyaring sunog]. Parang hallway ng engine room. Under investigation pa,"  Damerio said. —Giselle Ombay/KG/DVM, GMA Integrated News