Philippine rescue teams have rescued alive the 120 people who were on a ship that caught fire off the central coast of the Philippines, the Southeast Asian country’s coast guard announced.
The ship “MV Esperanza Star” had 55 crew members and 65 passengers on board when it caught fire off the island of Panglao, according to information from authorities quoted by the Spanish news agency EFE.
All people on board were rescued by lifeboats and fishermen sailing in the area.
The 120 people were transported to Tagbilaran city, the destination of the ferry, for medical care, food and water, the coast guard said.
That unit also reported that “firefighting and rescue operations continued in response to a maritime incident involving a passenger and cargo ship”.
In videos and images shared by rescuers on social media, it was possible to see the ship engulfed in flames and a thick cloud of smoke as the Coast Guard fought the fire with water cannon.
The cause of the accident is still unknown.
The fire reportedly started in the engine room and spread to the rear of the ship, according to initial reports cited by the head of the local disaster risk reduction and management agency, Anthony Damalerio.
Cargo and passenger ship incidents are not uncommon in the Philippines, due to the poor quality of shipping in the archipelago and overcrowded ferries.
In late March, a massive fire on a ferry in the south of the country killed 30, including three children, with 230 people saved.
Source: DN
