Southern Asia-Pacific Division

In the Philippines, Relief Yacht Carrying Adventist Volunteers Catches Fire

Volunteers serving earthquake-affected communities in Southern Mindanao escape unharmed after emergency evacuation at sea.

June 20, 2026

Philippines

Edward Rodriguez, Southern Asia-Pacific Division

Thick black smoke billows from a relief yacht carrying Adventist volunteers and humanitarian supplies after it caught fire at sea while en route to earthquake-affected communities in Southern Mindanao, Philippines. A nearby rescue boat assists in the emergency response as all 42 volunteers were safely evacuated and later brought to Glan, Sarangani Province.

Photo: Southern Mindanao Mission

Forty-two volunteers engaged in a humanitarian relief mission were safely rescued after a yacht carrying relief workers caught fire at sea while en route to deliver aid to earthquake-affected communities in Southern Mindanao, Philippines.

The vessel, owned by the Adventist-laymen's Services & Industries President, Edsel Lim, was transporting volunteers from the Adventist regional offices of Southern Mindanao (SMM) and Southeastern Philippines (SePUM), Adventist Community Services personnel, Hope Channel missionaries from Davao and Southern Mindanao to Balangonan Port, where the team was scheduled to conduct relief operations for affected residents of Margus Dako, Sarangani and Balangonan, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, Philippines. The volunteers were also preparing to continue their mission to Balut Island the following morning.

According to initial reports, heavy smoke was observed coming from the yacht, prompting an immediate evacuation. Photos showed volunteers transferring from the vessel to a smaller boat as the emergency unfolded.

Flames and thick black smoke engulf a relief yacht carrying Adventist volunteers during a humanitarian mission to earthquake-affected communities in Southern Mindanao, Philippines. All 42 volunteers on board were safely rescued and later brought to Glan, Sarangani Province, where they underwent medical assessment and debriefing following the incident. Photo: Southern Asia-Pacific Division

Video footage posted on the official social media page of the Adventist Church in Southeastern Philippines captured the dramatic rescue of volunteers as flames engulfed the vessel during the incident.

Communication was later established with the team, confirming that all 42 volunteers on board had been safely rescued. No injuries or casualties were reported.

The rescued volunteers were brought to Barangay Pangyan in Glan, Sarangani Province, where all 42 were confirmed safe and accounted for.

Medical personnel assessed the volunteers upon their arrival to monitor their condition and help them process the trauma resulting from the incident at sea

Although only about 5% of the relief supplies were recovered, mission leaders expressed gratitude that every volunteer survived the ordeal.

Boxes of drinking water, food supplies, and other relief goods sit at the shoreline after being recovered from a relief mission disrupted by a yacht fire at sea. Although much of the cargo was lost, volunteers salvaged a small portion of the supplies intended for earthquake-affected communities in Southern Mindanao. Photo: Southern Asia-Pacific Division

“The safety of our volunteers remains our greatest blessing in this situation,” said Nildo Mamac, president of the SMM, as leaders continued coordinating response efforts. “Although we have lost supplies and equipment, we are grateful that every volunteer was spared. Material things can be replaced, but lives cannot.”

The relief mission was organized to assist communities affected by recent earthquakes in the region. However, response efforts by land have been significantly hindered by damaged infrastructure, as several major roads remain impassable following the earthquake. Despite the loss of much of the relief cargo, church leaders and volunteers remain committed to delivering assistance to affected families and are working to establish alternative logistical arrangements to continue the humanitarian operation.

Workers from SMM and SePUM are currently assessing available options to secure another vessel that would allow relief operations to continue or facilitate the volunteers’ transportation as plans are reviewed.

Church leaders have requested prayers for the volunteers, the mission teams, and the communities awaiting assistance. They also ask for prayers for wisdom, protection, and provision as relief efforts move forward despite this unexpected setback.

The original article was published on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.