ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Two persons were injured and over a million worth of properties went up in smoke when a wooden-hulled vessel caught fire while about to depart for Sulu province.
Supt. Jhufel Brañanola, Zamboanga City Fire District marshal, said the incident happened around 8:40 a.m. Sunday at a private wharf in Barangay Baliwasan, this city.
Brañanola identified the victims as Kasma Mustarani Sabiran, 32; and Jabiran Erot, 65. They sustained burn injuries and were rushed to a hospital for treatment.
He said the other people aboard the ill-fated M/L NS Express were safely rescued and taken to the headquarters of the Zamboanga Coast Guard Station.
The Fire official said they have yet to determine the origin and cause of the fire that reached third alarm status.
He said based on initial information they gathered, the vessel was carrying 14 people, 75 drums of gasoline, two drums of diesel, 35 liquefied petroleum gas cyclinders and other dry goods when it caught fire. (PNA)
