2 Subic fishermen suffer severe burns after boat engine exploded in WPS

These two fishermen from Subic town, Zambales suffered severe burns after their boat’s engine exploded while fishing near Scarborough Shoal on Saturday, June 29. (Photo courtesy of PCG)

SUBIC, Zambales, Philippines — Two fishermen here suffered third-degree burns after their boat’s engine exploded while they were fishing near Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

According to Joel Banila, owner of FBCA AKIO, the boat left Barangay Calapandayan here on Monday (June 24) while carrying eight fishermen.

But on Saturday, he received a radio message from one of the boat crew members, who relayed details of the incident, including the third-degree burns suffered by Freddie Legaspi and Roland Otero.

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“They said that when the engine started, something exploded. Right now, I don’t know what the damage is, but I’m thinking about their safe return to Subic,” said Banila in a phone interview on Sunday.

Commander Euphraim Jayson Diciano, head of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Zambales, said PCG personnel aboard the BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) spotted the distressed boat while on patrol and immediately rescued the fishermen.

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According to Diciano, the fishing boat was almost half-submerged after the explosion.

He said the fishermen are now on their way home, and their boat is being towed by the BRP Sindangan and is expected to arrive in Zambales on Monday morning.