Crew member injured in Biliran motorbanca fire
INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY — A crew member of a motorized banca was injured after the vessel caught fire while it was docked at a port in Maripipi town, Biliran on Monday morning.
Alchie Vergar, 48, and a resident of Barangay Casibang in Maripipi, sustained second-degree burns on his right hand and left thigh.
He was promptly brought to the Maripipi Infirmary for medical treatment.
According to a report from the Philippine Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Maripipi, the motorized banca named St. Michael caught fire at 6:20 a.m.
The fire was extinguished with the combined efforts of CGSS Maripipi personnel, the vessel’s crew, and assistance from the nearby MBCA Island Queen at 6:31 a.m..
The report did not indicate how many crew members were present during the incident.
An investigation conducted by CGSS Maripipi revealed that the crew members had been performing a routine engine warm-up when a sudden flare occurred upon starting the engine.
Quick action from the crew to cut off the gasoline supply helped prevent the fire from spreading further.
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