A ship carrying 157 people caught fire in the Philippines. Earlier this week, the accident happened 60 km before reaching the capital Manila. The Coast Guard has shared several pictures of the small passenger ship, in which the shipwrecked people can be seen swimming in the sea waiting for help wearing life jackets. Black smoke can be released from this two-storeyed ship.
INCIDENT REPORT: The @coastguardph responded to a maritime incident involving MV MERCRAFT 2, a fast craft vessel that reported fire onboard in the vicinity waters off Real, Quezon today, 23 May 2022. pic.twitter.com/FItWkxtNdR
— Philippine Coast Guard (@coastguardph) May 23, 2022
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While the cause of the fire is not yet known. 5 women and 2 men died in this accident. 120 passengers have been rescued. The Coast Guard said in its statement that 23 of them are undergoing treatment in the hospital.
A ferry carrying more than 130 people caught fire in the northeastern Philippines. 7 passengers died, 120 people were rescued from the water. #BREAKING#tuesdayvibepic.twitter.com/oSiV8T1URl
— Akıncı (@Aknc35624923) May 24, 2022
The ship had departed from Polillo Island and was to be anchored in the Town of Real. The ship caught fire at 5 am and a distress call was made to the authorities at 6:30 am local time. The fire subsided after about 5 hours. This incident is being investigated.
PCG PRESS STATEMENT
25 May 2022This is to clarify the total number of affected individuals during the fire onboard incident involving MV MERCRAFT 2 in the vicinity of waters off Real, Quezon, on 23 May 2022. pic.twitter.com/2zdo3IBTrv
— Philippine Coast Guard (@coastguardph) May 25, 2022
The Coast Guard said that on May 24, it has been found in the investigation that initially 134 people were said to be aboard this boat but 157 people were on it.