Passenger ferry catches fire off Cebu

Smoke billows from the MV Liteferry as it sails off Cebu province Sunday afternoon, Sept. 2, 2018. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COAST GUARD

Updated

Fire hit an interisland ferry off Argao in Cebu province on Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

PCG Spokesperson Armando Balilo said fire struck the MV Liteferry minutes before it was supposed to dock at the Taloot Wharf in Cebu. He said the fire started while the ship was about 300 meters from the dock.

Balilo said the ship was carrying 97 passengers and 27 crew when the fire incident transpired.

All passengers and crew safely got off the ship and are in good condition, the Coast Guard said.

Investigation is underway on how and from what section of the ship the fire originated.

The authorities declared the fire out at 2:30 p.m.

Substation Commander Gerry Patenio of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Argao said they have yet to conduct an investigation to determine the damages and the cause of fire.— WITH JESSA SOTTO/INQUIRER VISAYAS /cbb

Originally published on Sep 2, 2018 @ 2:35PM