CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga - At least 18 ship crew members were injured when an oil tanker vessel docked near the shore of Barangay Luz, Limay, Bataan exploded on Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Police Regional Office-3 (PRO3) director, said M/TKR Reia Faye, a marine oil tanker operating under Reild Marine Services and Trading, was anchored about one nautical mile off the shore of said barangay.

It suddenly exploded due to engine malfunction while waiting for loading instructions from Petron Bataan Refinery, Aquino said.

Initial investigation from Bataan police showed that the ship’s engines were being powered-up when the crew heard irregular noise at the engine room followed by burst of flames.

Nearby tugboat operators rescued the crew who jumped into the water.