MANILA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine coast guard said on Tuesday that it is searching for 10 crew missing after a cargo vessel caught fire and sank off Caballo Island early Tuesday morning.
Speaking for the Philippine coast guard, Commander Armand Balilo said the vessels, M/V Virginia 1 sank after it burst into flames about 1:20 a.m. Tuesday.
He said fishermen around the area rescued a survivor named Angelo Gamble, the ship's quartermaster, around 7 a.m. in the vicinity of Bogiw Island in Papaya village in Batangas province, south of Manila.
Gamble reportedly told coast guard authorities that the 10 crew possibly went down with the damaged ship, Balilo said.
Initial reports showed that the vessel left Manila around 7 p.m. Monday en route to Roxas in Palawan.
Already, Balilo said all vessels passing in the area were alerted for possible survivors.
