ZAMBOANGA CITY — Mayor Khymer Adan T. Olaso has ordered a full-scale joint investigation into a tragic shipyard incident in Barangay Cawit that claimed the lives of four fishing vessel crew members, amid suspicions that toxic gas buildup inside a vessel’s containment area caused the deadly accident.
The fatal incident occurred Thursday morning, June 11, at the shipyard of a fishing company operating within a sardine processing facility in Barangay Cawit. Initial reports indicated that the victims lost consciousness while working inside a confined storage compartment of a fishing vessel docked at the facility.
Three of the victims were identified as Ranillo Sanugal Jr., 27, John Edgar Dotillos, 22, and Arnold Bongcawel. Authorities later confirmed that a fourth crew member also died as a result of the incident. Earlier reports had indicated that one worker was in critical condition and undergoing treatment at a hospital.
According to the preliminary investigation, the workers reportedly experienced severe dizziness before collapsing inside the vessel’s enclosed compartment at around 7:00 a.m. Despite efforts to rush them to a hospital, all four were declared dead by attending physicians.
Investigators are looking into the possibility that the compartment had accumulated toxic methane gas due to inadequate or irregular cleaning procedures. The gas buildup may have displaced oxygen within the confined space, leading to suffocation and the workers’ deaths.
In response to the tragedy, Mayor Olaso personally visited the Mega Fishing shipyard Thursday noon to inspect the area where the incident occurred. Joining him during the inspection were City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite, personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard-Cawit Station, Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO), sanitary inspectors, and Barangay Cawit officials.
The mayor and accompanying authorities conducted an on-site assessment of the vessel’s containment area to determine possible safety lapses and gather evidence related to the incident.
Mayor Olaso directed Dr. Miravite to spearhead a Joint Investigating Team tasked with conducting a comprehensive probe into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determining whether occupational safety and health standards were properly observed by the company.
“The safety and welfare of workers remain the top priority of the city government,” Olaso stressed as he ordered concerned agencies to establish the exact cause of the tragedy.
The mayor emphasized that strict compliance with mandatory workplace safety protocols must be enforced, particularly in high-risk environments such as shipyards and fishing vessels where confined-space hazards are present.
He also warned that severe sanctions would be imposed should investigators find evidence of negligence or violations of safety regulations.
“The city government will not tolerate negligence,” Olaso said, adding that he would not hesitate to recommend the issuance of a cease-and-desist order against the company if the investigation uncovers serious violations of safety standards and protocols.
Authorities are now reviewing the company’s maintenance procedures, workplace safety measures, and compliance with occupational health regulations as part of the ongoing investigation.
The incident has raised concerns over safety practices in fishing and shipyard operations, particularly regarding confined-space work where toxic gas accumulation can pose deadly risks to workers.
The investigation remains ongoing. Officials have assured the public that accountability will be pursued and that appropriate legal and administrative actions will be taken if violations are established.