REFILE-Two oil tankers catch fire east of Singapore, port authority says

(Corrects month in dateline)

SINGAPORE, July 19 (Reuters) - Two oil tankers have caught fire about 55 km northeast of Pedra Branca, which is located east of Singapore, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Friday.

The MPA was alerted to a fire on Friday at 6:15 a.m. (2215 GMT) onboard both a Singapore-flagged tanker, Hafnia Nile, and a Sao Tome and Principe-flagged tanker, Ceres I, it said in a statement.

The port authority has requested passing vessels to assist in the search and rescue of the crew, while a Singapore navy ship and air force helicopter are providing assistance.

(Reporting by Jeslyn Lerh; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)