LUUK, SULU — Three local fishermen narrowly escaped a life-threatening ordeal at sea after their motorized fishing boat caught fire while they were operating off the coast of Barangay Tulayan on Monday, June 29, 2026.

The maritime emergency triggered a rapid joint rescue operation by nearby residents, fellow fishermen, and local maritime security units, ensuring all three crew members were brought back to land safely.

According to initial accounts from the victims, the crew was engaged in standard fishing activities when a sudden mechanical failure occurred in the vessel’s engine compartment. Witnesses noted that a loud pop was followed by a thick cloud of smoke, and flames quickly engulfed the motorbanca (a traditional wooden motorized outrigger).

Because the vessel was constructed primarily of wood and fueled by gasoline, the fire spread aggressively across the deck, forcing the fishermen to abandon the burning craft. With limited firefighting equipment on board, the crew had no choice but to leap into the open water to escape the intense heat and toxic smoke.

Fortunately, the thick black plume of smoke rising from the waters off Barangay Tulayan caught the attention of nearby fishing boats and coastal observers. Recognizing the immediate danger, local fishermen in the area immediately steered their vessels toward the scene to offer assistance.

Responding teams arrived just in time to pull the three stranded fishermen out of the sea. The victims were quickly wrapped in blankets, provided with fresh water, and transported back to the shores of Luuk.

Medical personnel and local disaster risk reduction management officers met the rescue vessels at the shoreline to evaluate the fishermen. Aside from minor skin abrasions, mild smoke inhalation, and understandable psychological shock, all three individuals were declared to be in stable condition and did not require major hospitalization.

The motorbanca, however, could not be salvaged. The vessel was completely razed by the fire and eventually capsized, resulting in a total loss of the fishermen's catch and equipment. Local maritime authorities are conducting a routine investigation into the exact cause of the engine malfunction to prevent similar high-seas accidents in the future.