Coast Guard: 5 people hurt in boiler explosion on Taiwan vessel off Manila

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said at least five crew members of a Taiwan vessel were injured after its boiler exploded as it was traveling near Manila on Monday. The PCG said the Taiwan the crew members of vessel CT7-0039 (Ho-Chung) who were injured included four Indonesians and one Taiwanese. "The vessel’s five crew members were reportedly severely affected after exposure to ammonia and suffered chest pains," the PCG said on its website. "The Coast Guard Action Center had established contact with fishing vessel Captain Hon Je-Chao through satellite phone and VHF radio," the PCG added. Taiwan Embassy’s Andy Chen and Capt. Philip Chien of the PCG Auxiliary also provided reports on the situation of the crew members, the PCG said. The vessel was reportedly 100 miles from Manila when the accident happened on Monday, the PCG said. A separate report by radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo quoted PCG spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo as saying the five injured crew members suffered burns on their bodies and had difficulty breathing. A Coast Guard vessel with a medical team and Special Operations Group divers onboard was dispatched to intercept the fishing vessel. The passengers arrived early morning in Manila and were immediately brought to a nearby hospital. – VVP, GMA News