1 dead, 5 missing as ship catches fire, sinks near Corregidor Island

A crew member died and five more went missing after a fishing boat caught fire and sank in waters between Corregidor Island in Cavite and Mariveles, Bataan early Tuesday.

Lt. Carlos Victor Carlos, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard station in Bataan, identified the crew member who died as Sonny Ruado, 50.

Carlos said they received a distress call from MV Virginia I while it was in the vicinity of La Monja Island in Cavite at around 2:45 a.m.

Coast guard members rescued the ship's captain, Ronald Garcia, and three other members of the crew. One more crew member was saved by fishermen and brought to the PCG station in Calatagan, Batangas.

Carlos added that Ruado's death was confirmed by one of the rescued crew members. He said the man's lifeless body was left by his fellow crew members and was tied to a floating empty container. They body has yet to be retrieved.

He said they received a distress call at 2:45 a.m. when the vessel was at the vicinity of La Monja Island in Cavite.

He said that according to the ship's captain, the vessel caught fire due to faulty electrical wiring.

Investigations are ongoing to confirm the ship's claim as PCG rescuers continue to search for the five missing crew members. —report from Ernie B. Esconde/ALG, GMA News