In the Philippines, a tourist ferry caught fire, killing dozens of passengers—including a six-month-old child.
The fire on the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 off the southern province of Basilan on Wednesday night resulted in at least 23 injuries, and several of them were taken to hospitals.
Rescuers are still looking for at least seven people who have gone missing, and they are concerned that there may be more passengers on board than are stated in the manifest.
The ship is entirely enveloped in flames in shocking video footage.
In the Philippines, a tourist ferry caught fire, killing dozens of passengers—including a six-month-old child.
The fire on the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 off the southern province of Basilan on Wednesday night resulted in at least 23 injuries, and several of them were taken to hospitals.
Rescuers are still looking for at least seven people who have gone missing, and they are concerned that there may be more passengers on board than are stated in the manifest.
The ship is entirely enveloped in flames in shocking video footage.
Regional governor Jim Hataman described survivors leaping into the sea where they were rescued by the coast guard, another passing vessel and local fishermen.
He said: ‘Some of the passengers were roused from sleep due to the commotion caused by the fire. Some jumped off the ship.’
Several victims drowned and were recovered at sea, while 18 were discovered in a budget section of the passenger cabin, he added.
The ferry, which was enroute to Jolo town in Sulu province from the southern port city of Zamboanga when it caught fire, was towed to Basilan’s shoreline and an investigation is underway.
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, has a poor record for maritime safety.
Sea accidents are common due to frequent storms, badly maintained boats, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.
In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,300 people in the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster.