Boat engine explosion injures 2 Filipino fishers near Bajo de Masinloc | ABS-CBN
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Boat engine explosion injures 2 Filipino fishers near Bajo de Masinloc
Boat engine explosion injures 2 Filipino fishers near Bajo de Masinloc
Two Filipino fishers were injured in an engine explosion near Bajo de Masinloc. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard
Two Filipino fishers were injured in an engine explosion near Bajo de Masinloc. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast GuardMANILA — Two Filipino fishermen suffered third-degree burns following an engine explosion on their fishing boat near Bajo de Masinloc on Saturday, according to a report from the Philippine Coast Guard.
MANILA — Two Filipino fishermen suffered third-degree burns following an engine explosion on their fishing boat near Bajo de Masinloc on Saturday, according to a report from the Philippine Coast Guard.
Eight fishermen were aboard the ill-fated boat about 10 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, also called Scarborough Shoal and Panatag Shoal, when the explosion happened about 2 p.m., according to PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo.
Eight fishermen were aboard the ill-fated boat about 10 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, also called Scarborough Shoal and Panatag Shoal, when the explosion happened about 2 p.m., according to PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo.
There were no details yet as to the reason for the explosion.
There were no details yet as to the reason for the explosion.
Balilo said the CCG blocked the PCG vessel heading to rescue the Filipino fishermen, and issued a warning that they would arrest the fishermen if they did not cooperate.
Balilo said the CCG blocked the PCG vessel heading to rescue the Filipino fishermen, and issued a warning that they would arrest the fishermen if they did not cooperate.
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“Blinock sila ng China Coast Guard no’ng papunta sila do’n sa area. Nagkaroon pa ng dangerous maneuvers,” Balilo told ABS-CBN News in a telephone interview.
“Blinock sila ng China Coast Guard no’ng papunta sila do’n sa area. Nagkaroon pa ng dangerous maneuvers,” Balilo told ABS-CBN News in a telephone interview.
Apart from the CCG vessel, a People’s Liberation Army ship was also present in the area during the incident, according to Balilo.
Apart from the CCG vessel, a People’s Liberation Army ship was also present in the area during the incident, according to Balilo.
“Actually, nag-offer sila ng help pero parang hindi na sila pumayag kasi alam nila parating na ‘yong Philippine Coast Guard,” Balilo said.
“Actually, nag-offer sila ng help pero parang hindi na sila pumayag kasi alam nila parating na ‘yong Philippine Coast Guard,” Balilo said.
The Scarborough Shoal has been a potential flashpoint since Beijing seized it from Manila in 2012.
The Scarborough Shoal has been a potential flashpoint since Beijing seized it from Manila in 2012.
The fish-rich reef is about 240 kilometers west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese land mass.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, brushing off rival claims by the Philippines and other countries, and ignoring an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
To press its claims, Beijing deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waterway and has turned several reefs into artificial islands that it has militarized.
— with a report from Agence France-Presse
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