A passenger vessel, MV Asia Philippines, carrying 82 individuals, caught fire on Friday, Aug. 26, at around 5:59 pm.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) initial report, the passenger vessel had 48 passengers and 34 crew members with 16 rolling cargoes onboard, when a fire hit in the vicinity waters, one nautical mile away from the Batangas port area.

A total of 73 individuals were rescued and one of which was injured.

The PCG said the 44-year-old injured female was immediately brought to the nearest hospital.

It reported that the distressed vessel departed from Calapan Port at around 3 pm and it was expected to land at Batangas port at 5:30 pm.

In PCG's update report as of 6 am, Saturday, it said the vessel tilted and 90 percent of its third deck and 80 percent of the second deck were burned.

Citing reports from Starlite Ferries Inc., the PCG said the vessel has 16,000 liters of automotive diesel oil and a fuel tank.