CALATAGAN, BATANGAS — A search-and-rescue operation is underway after a fishing boat was found burning in waters off Calatagan, Batangas, with its fisherman still unaccounted for.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) launched efforts to locate the missing fisherman after authorities discovered the burning boat at sea, according to a report by Inquirer.net. The circumstances surrounding the fire and the whereabouts of the fisherman remained under investigation as of the latest available report.
The incident has raised concerns among authorities because the fisherman’s boat was located in flames while he was nowhere to be found. The PCG has been working to determine what happened before the vessel caught fire and whether the fisherman may have been forced to abandon the boat.
Search continues in Batangas waters
The PCG’s response comes as maritime authorities have been dealing with a series of incidents involving small boats and vessels in and around Batangas waters.
Earlier this month, the PCG warned other vessels to exercise caution after 46 shipping containers fell overboard from MV Span Asia 39 while the vessel was navigating waters near Calatagan and Nasugbu amid rough seas. The PCG subsequently deployed assets for shoreline patrols, drift tracking and containment operations.
Recent maritime emergencies elsewhere in the region have also underscored the risks faced by fishermen and other people traveling Philippine waters. On September 6, for example, the PCG rescued eight people after a motorboat capsized near Liwagao Island, while one person was reported dead.
The latest Calatagan incident, however, remains focused on locating the fisherman whose boat was discovered burning.
What happened to the fisherman?
Authorities have yet to establish the circumstances that led to the fire or provide a definitive account of how the fisherman became separated from his vessel.
Until the search operation produces new information, it would be premature to speculate whether the incident was caused by an engine problem, an onboard accident, weather conditions or another factor.
The PCG is expected to provide additional details as the search progresses.
For now, the central question remains unanswered: How did the boat catch fire—and where is the fisherman who was supposed to be aboard?
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