Philippine Passenger Ship Catches Fire During Voyage... All 120 Passengers and Crew Rescued (Comprehensive)

A fire broke out on a passenger ship sailing in the central waters of the Philippines, but all 120 passengers and crew members were rescued.

On the 18th, a fire broke out on the Philippine passenger ship M/V Esperanza Star, which was operating in the Panglao Sea, Bohol Province, Central Philippines, causing black smoke to rise. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the AP News on the 18th, a fire occurred early that morning on the 'M/V Esperanza Star' traveling from Siquijor Island in the central region toward Bohol Island to the northeast. The passenger ship was carrying 55 crew members and 65 passengers. The Coast Guard dispatched two vessels to the accident site to extinguish the fire and managed to control the flames after five hours. They, along with fishing boats operating nearby, rescued all the passengers and crew.

The Philippines, a country made up of over 7,000 islands, frequently experiences maritime safety accidents. In particular, accidents often occur due to frequent violations of boarding restrictions and the prevalence of aging vessels. In March, a fire broke out on a passenger ship carrying about 250 people near Basilan Island in the southwestern Philippines, resulting in 31 deaths. In December 1987, the passenger ship Dona Paz collided with an oil tanker and sank, killing over 4,300 people, marking the worst maritime safety accident in history.

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