BLAZE AT SEA | A fire breaks out at the entrance of the engine room of MV Esperanza Star while the vessel is on its way to Tagbilaran City Port around 3 a.m. on June 18, 2023. All of its 132 crew members and passengers have been rescued. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines — Authorities are looking into a possible oil spill in the waters off Panglao Island in Bohol province where a passenger and cargo ship caught fire at around 3 a.m. on Sunday.
Anthony Damalerio, head of the Bohol Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was scouring the area to determine whether or not MV Esperanza Star spilled oil while it was ablaze.
All 132 passengers and crew members of the ship were rescued and brought to Tagbilaran City Port.
The PCG, in a report, said they received a distress alert from MV Esperanza Star at around 3:55 a.m. on Sunday.
Rescuers from the PCG immediately proceeded to the area to save passengers and crew members of the ship owned and operated by Kho Shipping Lines. Other passengers were rescued by fishermen and a passing Trans Asia vessel.
According to the PCG, MV Esperanza Star sailed at 4 p.m. on Saturday from Iligan City to Lazi, Siquijor, before its final destination in Tagbilaran City. The vessel, however, caught fire starting at the entrance of its engine room less than an hour before it was supposed to dock at Tagbilaran City Port.
Damalerio said the passengers were brought to the Tagbilaran City port terminal building where they were given breakfast, water and other needs in coordination with the management of the shipping firm.
The PCG said it has yet to determine the cause of the fire and the cost of damage.
Kho Shipping Lines, owned by the family of Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho, on Sunday thanked all those who rescued the passengers and crew members of their ill-fated ship and assured the company would attend to the needs of its crew members and passengers.
“Functional fire suppression system long installed at the vessel such as fire hydrants, sprinkling system and others were immediately activated to put off the fire and avert further damages to the vessel,” it added.