ALL of the 47 crew members and the captain of M/V Filipinas Dinagat of Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc. were rescued after the vessel caught fire late Thursday evening, July 23, 2020, off the waters between Carmen and Sogod, in northern Cebu.

The ship was still on fire when the captain ordered the crew to abandon ship. The cause of the blaze has not been established as of this writing Thursday evening, July 23.

According to Alvin Dagalea, commander of Coast Guard Station Cebu Central and spokersperson of Coast Guard District Central Visayas, the vessel left Pier 1 in Cebu City at 7 p.m. bound for Palompon, Leyte.

Around 10 p.m., the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Central Visayas received reports that the ship caught fire. PCG immediately deployed BRP Suluan (MV-4406) to respond to the fire incident.

Dagalea said ships near the vicinity of M/V Dinagat were also asked to respond including LCT JSC 1 , LCT Melrevic 1, LCT Manoling and MV Lady Victory.

The ship carried various kinds of cargoes.