Two individuals reportedly died while one sustained injuries after a motor tanker sea horse caught fire at Batangas Anchorage Area on Sunday morning, Oct. 22.
This was confirmed by Safety Officer 1 (SO1) Mikaela Beato to DZRH in an interview during Rapido Hataw Balita.
“As of now, dalawang casualties ang nai-declare at one injured na nasa hospital ngayon,” she said.
Beato said the identity of the two corpses has yet to be determined.
“Negative pa kami sa details kasi under investigation pa kami. Bale, nag co-conduct ng investigation ang aming team sa port,” she added.
Beato also stated that they have yet to identify the number of missing passengers.
SO1 Mikaela Beato sa nasunog na motor tanker malapit sa Batangas Port: Ang cause of fire ay under investigation pa. Pero as of now, dalawang casualties ang nai-declare at one injured na nasa hospital ngayon.#RapidoHatawBalita#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) October 22, 2023
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Based on the Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog’s (CGDST) initial report posted on its Facebook page, the fire was reported at around 9 AM.
“Immediately, CGS Batangas coordinated with the multi-role response vessel, BRP Bagacay; the Bureau of Fire Protection; and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office to request assistance in the conduct of firefighting at the said incident,” it said.
“Likewise, PCG in Batangas launched a search and rescue operation to render necessary aid,” the CGDST added.
A fire out was declared at about 11:08 AM.
The agency said an oil spill response had been readied by the Marine Environmental Protection Group Batangas and Petron Company.
