Search and rescue ops ongoing for one missing in fastcraft fire in Bohol

Philippine Coast Guard personnel resumed search and rescue operations on Monday morning for one passenger who went missing after a fire broke out in a fastcraft vessel in the waters of Bohol on Sunday.

"Tuloy pa rin ang paghahanap natin doon sa isang nawawala. Kahapon medyo tumigil tayo noong gabi na. Pero itutuloy natin ngayong pagsikat ng araw at malamang 'yung ating mga search at rescue personnel ay nakapalaot na para hanapin pa itong isang nawawalang pasahero ng fastcraft," PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.

(We are continuing our search for the one passenger missing. We stopped our search last night, but we will continue at break of dawn today. At this time [of airing], our search and rescue personnel are most likely already out at sea to search for this one missing passenger of the fastcraft.)

On Sunday afternoon, the fastcraft MBCA Mama Mary Chloe carrying 157 passengers and eight crew caught fire, the PCG said.

The vessel, which has a passenger capacity of 236, departed Ubay, Bohol and was on its way to Bato, Leyte when it caught fire at 1 p.m. in the waters between Tugas and Tilmobo Islands in Bohol.

One died, while 163 survived, the PCG said. One passenger remains missing.

Balilo said many of the survivors were fetched by their relatives, while others were being looked after by local government units.

"Marami sa kanila ay nakauwi na, sinundo ng mga kamag-anak. 'Yung iba naman ay kung saang LGU sila dinala ay tinutulungan naman po sila. Itong ating mga LGUs na mga nakakasakop kung saan sila dinala ay sila naman ay properly taken care of," he said.

(Many of them have gone home as they were fetched by relatives. Others are being given assistance by the LGUs where they were brought. They are properly taken care of by these LGUs.)

Balilo said the survivors with injuries were already given treatment. The injuries were minor, he said.

"'Yung may mga injury ay trineat po. Very minor 'yung injuries," he said.

(Those with injuries were already treated. Their injuries were very minor.)

Balilo said PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu ordered that the captain and crew of the fastcraft vessel be asked on Monday as to the circumstances of the incident.

"Ang instruction ni Admiral Abu, ang ating commandant, ay get hold of the captain and crew ngayong araw na ito para makapagtanong na initially kung ano ang dahilan at kung ang tamang procedure [ay nasunod]," he said.

(The instruction of our commandant Admiral Abu is to get hold of the captain and crew today to ask them initially what could have caused the fire and if the standard procedures were followed.) —KG, GMA News