According to reports, a fire broke out in the engine room of “GENERAL ROMULO” while it was anchored at Talisay anchorage in Cebu City.
The fire quickly spread and engulfed the majority of the superstructure.
There were 20 crew members onboard at the incident, and a rescue mission was launched to evacuate them.
According to reports, the Chief Engineer died, and three crew members were burned. As a result, the ship was abandoned.
According to the AFP news agency, the fire on the oil tanker had been extinguished by the time rescuers arrived. The ship, however, is thought to have lost its mobility.
The cause of the explosion is still unknown, and authorities have not confirmed whether or not there were any oil spills.
