Google map of Socorro, Surigao del Norte.
BUTUAN CITY – Twenty-two fishermen were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Surigao City after their fishing boat caught fire and sank off the coast of Surigao del Norte province.
Commander Lawrence Roque of the PCG in Surigao told the Philippine News Agency Wednesday morning that the fishing boat caught fire at around 7 p.m. Tuesday, 15 nautical miles east off Socorro, Surigao del Norte.
“We received the call past 7 p.m., and we immediately dispatched a team to the area,” Roque said, adding that 10 of the fishermen suffered burns and were immediately brought to Surigao City for treatment.
Roque said two other fishing boats helped in the rescue operation to save the fishermen, who are from Bayawan, Negros Oriental.
“Based on our investigation, the gasoline from a container was accidentally spilled into the engine area that caused the fire. The LPG they use for cooking was also caught by the fire and exploded,” the PCG official said.
“The area east of Socorro is now the fishing ground of fishermen from different parts of Mindanao and Visayas," he added.
Missing fireman
Meanwhile, Roque said the search for the missing personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) who was reported missing since Sunday evening (Nov. 1) is still ongoing.
“The city government of Surigao has provided a drone for us to have wider scope in our search and rescue efforts. This is now the third day since the subject person is missing,” Roque said.
The missing BFP personnel, identified as SFO1 Samalo B. Amparo, was one of the three individuals in the motorized banca when it sank between the waters of Surigao City and Dinagat Islands province last Sunday.
“We are still hoping we can find and rescue him as we are exerting all our efforts in the continuing operations,” Roque said. (PNA)
