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| The PCG said the vessel had 126 passengers and 8 crew members with an authorized capacity of 186. (Photo from The World) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] LUCENA CITY: Seven passengers perished when the fire broke out on a vessel bound for Real, Quezon on Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported. The fatalities, aboard Vessel Mercraft 2, include five females and two males, PCG Commodore Armand Balilo said in a statement, PhilStar reported.
The PCG said the vessel had 126 passengers and 8 crew members with an authorized capacity of 186. As of 11:30 a.m., all 127 surviving passengers and crew were rescued. Of the figure, 24 were injured. Vessel Mercraft 2 left Polillo Island at 5 a.m. and caught fire, allegedly emerging in the engine room, at approximately 1,000 yards from the Port of Real. The vessel was towed to Baluti Island in Barangay Cawayan, Real, Quezon.
Police Colonel Joel Villanueva, Quezon police chief, said crew members of two roll-on-roll-off and other nearby vessels rushed to the site and helped rescue the passengers.
