THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) led multi‑agency response efforts after a fire broke out aboard the motor tanker MTKR GINDARA docked at the Balayan Distillery Inc. Port in Barangay Talisay, Calaca City, Batangas, on September 30, 2026.
Upon receiving the alert from the Calaca City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, personnel from Coast Guard Sub‑Station Lemery immediately deployed alongside the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Calaca City and local tugboats to contain the blaze and ensure the safety of the vessel and surrounding port facilities.
The ship was carrying a cargo of molasses with 22 crew members on board when the fire reportedly started in the engine room. Twenty crew members were accounted for and confirmed safe, while two sustained injuries requiring medical attention. One was admitted to the Metro Lemery Medical Center for further evaluation and monitoring, and the other — treated for inhalation injury at the Metro Calaca Hospital — chose to be discharged against medical advice. No fatalities were reported.
Additional PCG units were mobilized to reinforce the response, including personnel from Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog, Sub‑Stations Balayan and Batangas City, the Coast Guard Medical Station–Southern Tagalog, and the Maritime Safety Investigation Unit. The multi‑role response vessel BRP Malapascua (MRRV‑4403) was also dispatched to the area to assist with firefighting and monitoring operations. As of the latest update, no visible fire remained at the vessel’s bridge or superstructure, though smoke was still observed emanating from the ship.
Authorities continue to coordinate closely with the BFP, port management, tugboat operators, and other stakeholders to fully extinguish any remaining hotspots and secure the site. The exact cause of the engine room fire has not yet been determined and remains the subject of a formal investigation.
metrosundaily
