On December 3, a fire broke out on the general cargo vessel Meridian Dos while it was alongside at Manila North Harbor in Tondo, Philippines. Three people were injured, and an investigation has been launched.
Reports said thick smoke was first seen around 6:00 a.m. as the container-laden vessel was preparing to depart. The fire later intensified and was escalated to a second alarm, prompting a major response. Around 30 fire trucks were deployed, and the blaze was declared extinguished at 8:45 p.m. after nearly three hours of active firefighting.
Authorities managed to contain the fire to the lower decks. The injured individuals were taken to hospital for treatment. The Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Ports Authority have opened an official probe, and additional safety measures, inspections, or penalties could follow depending on the findings.
Meridian Dos is a Philippine-flagged general cargo ship built in 1991, measuring 94 meters in length and 15 meters in beam, with a 3,320 GT tonnage.
