Posted 6:10 a.m., Aug. 28, 2019
Updated as of 11:02 p.m., Aug. 29, 2019
A ship, which left Cebu on late Tuesday evening, reportedly caught fire while on its way to Dapitan City.
Facebook user Allan Barredo was one of the passengers of a passing vessel who witnessed the scene posted a video and photo of the burning ship.
Barredo was onboard a passing vessel that helped rescue the passengers who jumped off from the ship.
According to Lt. Jr. Grade Michael John Encina, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard in Central Visayas (PCG-7), they received the report at 1a.m. on Wednesday.
The vessel was identified as Lite Ferry 16 with 137 passengers onboard.
“Currently, Coast Guard Dapitan is conducting rescue operation together with other ships,” Encina said.
The ship is 1.5 nautical miles away from Paluan Port in Dapitan City.
Barredo, who posted an update as of 5:45 a.m., said there was still no boat from the Philippine Coast Guard nearby.