2 hurt as boat catches fire in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Two persons were injured when a wooden-hulled motorlaunch caught fire in a private wharf here yesterday morning.

The M/L NS Express was docked at the Petron Wharf in Baliwasan Seaside when the fire broke out at around 8 a.m., according to city fire marshall Superintendent Jhufel Brañanola.

Kasma Mustarani Sabiran, 32, and Jabiran Erot, 35, both of Siasi town, were taken to a hospital for treatment of burns.

The fire spread to the upper deck of the vessel before it was declared under control by responding firefighters from the Bureau of Fire Protection and Philipine Coast Guard station here.

Initial investigation showed the fire originated from the engine room and sparked an explosion, which  prompted the 10 crewmembers and four passengers to jump into the water. 

“All passengers were accounted for. Two of them suffered burns,” Brañanola said.

The NS Express is engaged in transporting petroleum products and construction materials.

It was reportedly carrying 77 drums of gasoline and diesel and 35 tanks of cooking gas when the blaze occurred. 

The fire lasted two hours.