SuperFerry 12 fire under control

Authorities reported on Thursday afternoon that the fire that hit a commercial passenger vessel off Cebu waters was under control. The more than 600 passengers of WG&A Super Ferry 12 were already safe, report said. Coast guard personnel rushed to the scene after receiving information on the incident. The fire forced the ship to anchor some 60 nautical miles from Bantayan island, Cebu. The fire started from the vessel’s top deck at around 9 a.m. Thursday. WG&A officials said 664 passengers, including three infants, were onboard the ship. The officials assured that all the passengers were safe and will be taken to Cebu as soon as the fire is completely put out. The fire may have emanated from cabin 205 or 206, although the cause has yet to be determined, radio reports said. The Super Ferry 12 left from Manila bound for Cebu. On Feb. 27, 2004, Abu Sayyaf bandits purportedly bombed a WG&A vessel, Superferry 14, killing 116 people. The bandits reportedly asked for protection money from the company. -GMANews.TV