PHILIPPINES – Engine Room Blaze on Manila Cargo Ship Injures Three Crew Members

Three crewmembers were hospitalized after a fire broke out aboard the general cargo vessel Meridian Dos while it was docked in Manila. Local firefighting units responded quickly, preventing the blaze from spreading beyond the engine room.

The fire was first detected around 1850 local time. By shortly after 1900, the first alarm had been raised, and a second alarm followed roughly 20 minutes later as thick smoke continued to rise from the ship. Fire crews worked for about two hours before fully extinguishing the flames.

Meridian Dos—a 94-meter, 4,222-dwt cargo ship built in 1991—has operated in the Philippines since 2014, transporting containers and general cargo. Officials did not immediately disclose how many personnel were on board during the incident.

Following the fire, three injured crewmembers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The Philippine Ports Authority has launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze, and a damage assessment of the vessel is planned.

Photo credit: Sacred Heart Fire Volunteer Brigade – Mainila. All rights reserved.