A cargo vessel loaded with more than 100 fuel containers was engulfed in flames off R.T. Lim Boulevard in Zamboanga City on May 9. The incident forced the three crew members to leap into the water to escape the blaze.
The ship, named M/L Alkazer and owned by Akmad Hamja, was preparing to depart for Tawi-Tawi when the fire erupted around 5:30 PM.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the vessel was carrying 135 gallons of gasoline and two drums of diesel.
Lead investigator FO3 Rodel Araneta indicated that early reports suggest mechanical failure during engine startup may have triggered the fire.
Initial reports indicate the fire started around 5:30 PM while the vessel was bound for Tawi-Tawi. According to a witness, ignition occurred in the engine, causing it to burst into flames.
FO3 Rodel Araneta, BFP
The fire rapidly intensified, reportedly due to a fuel leak, leaving the crew with little time to react. They abandoned the vessel as thick smoke and heat engulfed the area.
Firefighters from the Zamboanga City fire station responded quickly but struggled to contain the flames as the vessel drifted further out to sea.
Eventually, responders used aqueous film-forming foam to extinguish the fire as the vessel moved closer to the shoreline.
All three crew members emerged unscathed, but the vessel and its cargo were deemed a total loss. Fortunately, there were no passengers onboard.
Investigators are currently assessing the cause of the leak and whether the vessel adhered to safety protocols for transporting hazardous materials.