At least 31 people were killed and 230 were rescued after a boat caught fire in the southern Philippines, local authorities said.
The ship “Lady Mary Joy 3” was on its way from the city of Zamboanga to the island of Jolo, Sulu province, when a fire broke out on Wednesday night. According to rescue coordinator Nixon Alonzo, several passengers threw themselves overboard.
“Initially we recorded 13 deaths. Then we got information about 18 more, bringing the balance to 31,” said Jim Salliman, governor of Basilan province, where the tragedy took place.
Among the bodies recovered were three children, including a six-month-old baby.
Rescue teams, supported by the Philippine Coast Guard and fishermen, rescued 195 passengers and 35 crew after the blaze near Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province.
Authorities also announced a death toll of 14.
Governor Salliman said the casualty count could be even higher as the number of passengers exceeded 205 on the boarding list.
“There are probably passengers who were not on the boarding list,” he said.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Survivors were taken to Basilan, where the injured were treated for burns.
Photos released by the Coast Guard show a ship extinguishing the burning ship as workers on smaller boats rescue passengers from the water.
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, has a troubled shipping system with frequent accidents.
Source: DN
