Coast Guard readies probe of 'killer' barge in Batangas

As one of the initial steps in the investigation of the fatal Batangas port incident, the Philippine Coast Guard has ordered the owner of the "killer" barge whose fumes killed three workers and forced 2,000 residents to evacuate to submit his version of last Tuesday's tragedy. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported on Thursday that Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo expects the owner Nilo Bantugon to file his version of the incident soonest. Tamayo ordered Coast Guard Southern Luzon commander Commodore Cecil Chen to form a Special Board of Marine Inquiry that will look into the incident. On Tuesday afternoon, at three workers were killed while three others were hospitalized after inhaling fumes while working on the barge "Kota Kinabalu." The fumes also forced 2,000 residents in the area around the wharf where the barge was docked to evacuate their homes. Initial investigation showed chemicals and carbon monoxide, possibly from paint and welding work on the barge, caused the toxic fumes. - LBG, GMANews.TV