Sudden Engine Fire On Philippine Passenger Ferry Forces Evacuation, Leaving 4 Injured

Manila, Philippines—An intense fire erupted inside the engine compartment of an inter-island passenger ferry Sunday morning, sending dense black smoke billowing through lower passenger decks and forcing an emergency evacuation at sea. The vessel lost power roughly two nautical miles off the coast, prompting crew members to deploy life rafts while signaling immediate distress to regional maritime authorities.

Philippine Coast Guard patrol craft and nearby commercial fishing boats converged on the burning vessel within minutes of the alarm. Rescuers pulled panicked passengers from life rafts and the water, safely transferring over a hundred individuals onto escort craft. Four passengers sustained moderate burn injuries and smoke inhalation during the rapid disembarkation process.

Passengers recounted hearing a loud mechanical thud from the lower hull right before cabin lights failed and thick electrical smoke poured through ventilation shafts. Crew members attempted to contain the blaze using automated fire suppression systems, but escalating heat forced them to prioritize deck evacuations.

Medical teams received the injured at a nearby municipal pier, immediately rushing them to district hospitals for specialized respiratory treatment. Coast Guard personnel maintained a wide perimeter around the drifting hull as firefighters sprayed high-pressure foam onto hot structural bulkheads.

Hospital administrators confirmed that all four hospitalized victims remain in stable condition under observation for smoke inhalation complications. Port authorities established an emergency assistance center to help stranded travelers secure replacement identification documents and temporary transit back home.

"Smoke covered the main deck so fast that we could barely see the life jacket lockers," said a surviving passenger wrapped in a emergency blanket on the dock. "The crew shouted orders and helped people jump into the rescue boats as flames pushed up from below."

Maritime Industry Authority inspectors launched a formal investigation into the vessel's engineering maintenance logs and propulsion service history. Investigators seized engine room telemetry files and maintenance sign-off records from the ship operator's shore facility.

Coast Guard officers detained senior vessel engineers on site for technical interviews regarding engine performance and automated alarm responses prior to departure. Authorities continue to collect eyewitness testimonies from crew members who fought the blaze.

Tugboats towed the charred ferry hull to a secure shipyard facility by early evening for physical forensic examination. Regional maritime advisories remain posted for local shipping lanes while authorities ensure no oil residue threatens surrounding coastal habitats.