Over 100 people were evacuated from the passenger ship ‘Lite Ferry 28’ after a fire broke out onboard, while the ship was sailing approximately 300 meters off Taloot Port Argao, Cebu, in the afternoon hours of Sunday, 2 September, the Philippine Coast Guard informed.
According to initial information, the ship was en route to Cebu Port from Tagbiliran, Bohol, with 97 passengers, 27 crew and four rolling cargoes onboard when the incident occurred.
The Coast Guard’s Multi-Role Response Vessel (MRRV) 4404 ‘BRP Capones’ headed to the scene to render necessary assistance.
Personnel of Coast Guard Sub-Station Argao assisted the passengers and crew of the vessel to be transferred to Landing Craft Tank (LCT) ‘Miami’ which was plying nearby the incident area. All passengers and crew were safely disembarked at Argao Port.
At 3:45PM of the same day, the fire was declared ‘controlled’ by MRRV 4404.
Boarded by CGSS Argao and Bureau of Fire Protection personnel, the distress vessel was later towed and escorted to Taloot Wharf, Argao, Cebu for safety and further investigation.
