Fire Breaks Out on Marooned Car Carrier in the Philippines

A fire broke out on board an inoperable car carrier on Friday during salvage operations in the central Philippines.

The MV Diamond Highway had previously run aground in Punta Engano village in Lapu-Lapu City during Typhoon Rai in December 2021 and had been marooned there since.

Workers were cutting metal scraps when the fire started in the ship’s starboard bow, the ship’s operations manager told the Philippine Coastguard. All personnel working on the scrap operations were safely evacuated from the ship.

The Philippine Coastguard responded to the fire with one of its tugboats heading to the scene.

The Diamond Highway was one of over 100 vessels affected by Typhoon Rai, which killed over 400 people.