BOAT FIRE. A medical personnel attends to one of the five injured victims rescued after a motorboat catches fire at the wharf in Barangay Rio Hondo, Zamboanga City Thursday evening (July 6, 2023). The victims were about to sail to Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan when the incident took place. (Photo courtesy of Zamboanga CIO)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Five people, including three children, were injured when the motorboat they were riding caught fire in this city, a top police official said Friday.
Col. Alexander Lorenzo, city police director, said the incident took place Thursday evening at the wharf in Barangay Rio Hondo.
He said the fire broke out when the motorboat skipper was preparing to start the engine as the victims were set to sail to Basilan province.
“The engine suddenly triggered a spark and eventually exploded,” Lorenzo said, adding that the adult victims were aged between 33 and 65 while the children were 3, 5 and 12.
Jinnul Ara Malik, Rio Hondo village chief, said the victims are all residents of the town of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan province.
“They came to Zamboanga City in the morning to buy essential goods, including fuel,” Malik said Friday over a local radio station.
Lorenzo said the victims were rescued after jumping into the sea and brought to the Zamboanga City Medical Center for treatment.
Most residents of Hadji Muhtamad town, especially businessmen, prefer to buy essential goods here since the island municipality is nearer to Zamboanga City than mainland Basilan. (PNA)
