8 persons injured in Camarines Sur boat explosion

NAGA CITY, Philippines—Eight crew members of a cargo vessel carrying petroleum products were severely burned by an explosion aboard the boat while it was docked at a private port in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, late night Wednesday, the police said Thursday.

Chief Inspector Alejandro I. Monge II, police chief of Pasacao, identified those who suffered second degree burns and were now confined at the Bicol Medical Center as Nathan Balbona, 50, the captain of “MV STC Jeffrey Roy,” a cargo and passenger vessel; and crewmembers Jesmar Ragot, Reynel Ragot, Erasmo Rosero, Rolly Mangarin, Noe Macalipay, Dennis Mangarin and Joebert Mangarin.

Monge said the boat had seven passengers but they were not hurt by the explosion. They were Jerson Roy, Jelson Roy, Jerwin Roy, Winny Rada, Ronito Robiso and Florencio Robiso.

All of the crew and the boat’s passengers hailed from Mabini, San Fernando, Romblon, according to Monge.

He said the engine sparked right after it was started at around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by a massive explosion.

He said a security guard at a nearby Petron gas station reported the incident to the authorities of Sta. Rosa Del Sur village in Pasacao.