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Fire hits passenger vessel off Batangas City; 73 rescued

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Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A blaze ripped through a passenger vessel off Batangas City. Photo courtesy of Allysa Arias" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/08/26/08262022-fire-hits-passenger-vessel-off-batangas-city.jpg"/><figcaption>A blaze ripped through a passenger vessel off Batangas City. <em>Photo courtesy of Allysa Arias</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA <strong>(4th UPDATE)</strong> — Fire engulfed a passenger ferry in the waters off Batangas province on Friday, the Philippine Ports Authority said. </p><p>The MV Asia Philippines-Cebu of Starlite Shipping was carrying passengers and crew members when the blaze ripped through the vessel around 5:30 p.m., according to PPA-Batangas. </p><p>An initial report from the Philippine Coast Guard said 82 people were onboard the watercraft. More than 15 vehicles were also aboard, it added.</p><p>The fire struck as the ferry from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro neared the Batangas Port, the PPA said. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2195870" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>Passengers jumped into the sea as thick black smoke billowed from the vessel during the incident, a video shared to ABS-CBN News showed. </p><p>Rescue operations by the Philippine Coast Guard were ongoing as of posting, said PCG-Batangas station commander Capt. Vic Acosta.</p><p>At least 73 people have been rescued, one of whom was brought to the hospital, the PCG said.</p><p>Two passengers remain missing, according to Acosta.</p><p>“Nakasulat po sa manifesto pangalan nila. Pero ayun nga po, sa pag ta-tally ng incident command, may dalawa tayo allegedly missing,” Acosta said.</p><p>According to Starlite Ferries, however, all 40 passengers and 33 crew members onboard have been accounted for. PCG said it is cross-checking and verifying the data. </p><p>Pol. Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento, commander of APC-Southern Luzon, said that it is possible all individuals on board have been rescued as no family member or relative has come forward.</p><p>“Alleged pa lang &#x27;to. Wala pa naghahanap sa dalawa pero gusto natin makasiguro. Nasa manifest, andun sila. We hope and pray nakaligtas and &#x27;di lang nagpapakita pa,” he clarified.</p><p>Nevertheless, Acosta said the search and rescue operations for the possible missing individuals at sea will continue.</p><p>“Yung search and rescue di natin ititigil. And hindi pa cinoconsider ang search and retrieval. Tuloy-tuloy po iyan,” he said.</p><p>Authorities will continue to search the ferry, which has been brought to Bauan Anchorage, on Saturday morning.</p><p>The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, is plagued by poor sea transport, with its badly regulated boats prone to overcrowding and accidents.</p><p>In May, 7 people were killed when a fire ripped through a ferry carrying 134 passengers and crew off Quezon.— <strong>With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong><br/> </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2049025" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

MANILA (4th UPDATE) — Fire engulfed a passenger ferry in the waters off Batangas province on Friday, the Philippine Ports Authority said. 

Fire hits passenger vessel off Batangas City; 73 rescued

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Fire hits passenger vessel off Batangas City; 73 rescued

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2022 07:14 PM PHT

|

Updated August 27, 2022 07:59 AM PHT

Read More:

ferry

ferry fire

passenger vessel

sunog barko

MV Asia Philippines-Cebu

Starlite Shipping

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