Boat carrying petroleum hit by blast; 8 crewmen hurt

NAGA CITY—An explosion apparently caused by sparks from the engine of a cargo vessel carrying petroleum products wounded eight of the vessel’s crewmen at a private port in Pasacao, Camarines Sur late Wednesday, police said yesterday.

The captain and crewmen of MV STC Jeffrey Roy, a cargo and passenger vessel, suffered second degree burns and were brought to the Bicol Medical Center. Seven passengers in the vessel were not hurt.

Chief Insp. Alejandro Monge II, Pasacao police director, said the explosion was apparently caused by sparks that flew off the vessel’s engine when it was turned on at about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

A guard at a nearby gas station reported the explosion to authorities of Barangay Sta. Rosa Del Sur in Pasacao. The vessel was docked at a private port owned by the Olivan family that also operates several gas stations in Camarines Sur and other provinces.