MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is investigating how calcium hypochlorite and asphalt allegedly spilled and mixed aboard passenger and cargo vessel MV June Aster, possibly triggering a fire that killed 77 people off Coron, Palawan, on September 9.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Fire Chief Superintendent Wilberto Rico Neil Ang Kwan Tiu said that the chemicals were stored near the vessel's engine exhaust, where heat may have contributed to the ignition.
“It's a corrosive agent na pagka nag-mix po siya sa asphalt can be possibly na mag-ignite,” Tiu said during a press briefing on Friday, October 16.
(It is a corrosive agent that could possibly ignite when mixed with asphalt.)
Calcium hypochlorite is a chemical commonly used to disinfect swimming pool water and kill bacteria. It is a strong oxidizing agent that can intensify combustion and pose fire hazards when it comes into contact with incompatible materials.
Asphalt, meanwhile, is a petroleum-derived material commonly used in road construction and waterproofing. It is combustible, particularly when heated.
The BFP is investigating whether rough seas caused the cargo to collapse, spilling calcium hypochlorite onto the asphalt near the vessel's engine exhaust outlet, where high temperatures may have contributed to ignition.
“Then while the vessel experienced Subasco—'yun pong rough sea condition—na-tumba po 'yung mga cargo and that comes the mixture of the calcium hypochlorite and the asphalt. Dun po nag-umpisa,” Tiu said.
(Then, while the vessel was experiencing rough sea conditions, the cargo toppled over, causing the calcium hypochlorite and asphalt to mix. That was where it all started.)
The BFP presented an artificial intelligence-assisted re-enactment of the incident, using photographs of the vessel and generated visuals to illustrate how the fire may have spread from the rear portion of the cargo deck toward the passengers' sleeping area.
The agency's reconstruction indicated that the chemicals were stored at the rearmost portion of the cargo deck, directly in front of the engine room's hot air exhaust outlet.
Tiu also cited a problem with the vessel's ventilation system, which may have allowed heat to build up in the cargo area.
Engine trouble delayed voyage
The BFP said MV June Aster's voyage was originally scheduled for September 3 but was delayed by four days. The vessel's operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., cited bad weather and low tide conditions, although investigators also received information that the vessel had been experiencing engine problems.
Despite the delay, cargo continued to be loaded onto the vessel, including hardware items, drums of cooking oil, asphalt and calcium hypochlorite.
According to the BFP's reconstruction, the vessel departed Baseco Port in Manila at around midnight on September 8, bound for Coron.
During the voyage, rough seas caused some cargo to shift and collapse. The BFP said a reported cargo-lashing failure occurred at the forward portion of the cargo deck, but no crew member inspected the cargo at the rear portion.
The vessel also encountered engine performance problems and underwent repairs to its engine fuel lines, delaying its arrival by around two hours and 45 minutes.
At around 5 p.m. on September 9, about 50 minutes before the fire broke out, the captain allegedly instructed the chief engineer to increase the engine's revolutions per minute to raise the vessel's speed to nine knots and recover lost time.
The BFP said the prolonged voyage and reported increase in engine speed may have raised exhaust temperatures, affecting the conditions inside the cargo deck.
Asked whether the captain had confirmed the sequence of events, Tiu said investigators obtained accounts from survivors and crew members.
“Yes, our Directorate for Investigation and Intelligence, we created a task force MV Aster. They proceeded to the area and they are able to get the narrative coming from the survivors as well as 'yung mga crew ng barko. So this narrative is really the result of the investigation,” he said.
(Yes, our Directorate for Investigation and Intelligence created a task force, MV Aster. They proceeded to the area and obtained accounts from the survivors as well as the ship’s crew. So, this account is really the result of the investigation.)
77 dead, eight still missing
The fire broke out at around 6:30 p.m. on September 9 while MV June Aster was sailing in waters about 1.2 nautical miles northeast of Barangay Marcilla in Coron, Palawan.
Of the 128 people on board, comprising 111 passengers and 17 crew members, 77 were confirmed dead and eight remained missing, according to the BFP.
Tiu said 63 of the fatalities had been identified by the Scene of the Crime Operatives. He also reported 43 injured people.
The BFP's reconstruction said 43 survivors were rescued from the sea by passing fishing boats about two hours after the fire broke out. Rescue efforts were later supported by the Philippine Coast Guard, BFP personnel, Coron municipal disaster risk reduction and management personnel, and volunteers.
The survivors were brought to the Port of Turda for medical assessment and first aid. Some sustained burn injuries.
Tiu said toxic smoke from the fire may have contributed to the high number of fatalities, as passengers could have been asleep in their bunks when the incident occurred.