18 rescued after ship catches fire in Navotas

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) responded to four maritime incidents in Navotas as Tropical Storm Enteng battered Luzon yesterday.

Training ship M/V Kamilla caught fire after being hit by cargo vessel GT Express amid strong currents at an anchorage in Navotas.

The 18 crewmembers of Kamilla were rescued, with one taken to the Navotas City Hospital for treatment.

The PCG deployed BRP Suluan to extinguish the fire.

Three vessels ran aground in the waters off Navotas: barge ASC Regine as well as motor tankers Patriot III and EBC Maricel VI.

Motor tugboats are waiting for weather conditions to improve before removing the vessels, the PCG said.

Another barge, Tamban, reportedly drifted and was towed to the Navotas fish port complex.

Fires break out in Metro Manila

Meanwhile, fires broke out in Marikina, Quezon City and Navotas at the height of Tropical Storm Enteng yesterday.

In a report, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said a shoe warehouse was struck by a fire in Barangay Sta. Elena, Marikina at 8 a.m.

The fire reached the first alarm before it was doused by firefighters at 9:41 a.m.

The BFP said there were no injuries and casualties.

In Quezon City, a fire razed a two-story house along Scout Limbaga street, Barangay Sacred Heart at 9:14 a.m. The blaze was put out after one hour.

The BFP reported one casualty whose identity remains unknown. — Mark Ernest Villeza