Volunteers and staff of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Laguna and Quezon-Lucena chapters distributed hot meals through PRC’s Hot Meals on Wheels Program to 100 passengers affected by the fire at Mercraft 2, a vessel that caught fire in Real, Quezon yesterday, May 23, 2022.

The Red Cross Welfare Teams also provided psychosocial support to 30 individuals at the Real Port Terminal and at the Claro M. Recto District Hospital, where some passengers were transported for treatment. Twenty passengers received health kits. The vessel had a total of 124 passengers.

The Philippine Red Cross immediately deployed two ambulance units with trained emergency medical services personnel at the scene after receiving a report on the fire. A total of 16 Red Cross emergency response and relief personnel were deployed.

“Tunay na maaasahan ang Red Cross volunteers and staff sa iba’t ibang parte ng ating bansa sa pagresponde sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan kapag may emergency,” Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said.