2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

Asia Pacific> Asia News> Content
Thursday, March 30, 2023, 11:34
At least 10 killed in Philippine ferry fire, over 200 rescued
By Xinhua
Thursday, March 30, 2023, 11:34 By Xinhua

This file handout photo taken and released on May 23, 2022 from the Philippine Coastguard shows people throwing buckets of water onto a smouldering ferry which had caught fire near Real town, Quezon province, the Philippines. A ferry carrying more than 200 people caught fire in southern Philippines at late night on March 29, 2023, killing at least 10 passengers, a local official said on March 30, 2023.

MANILA – A ferry carrying more than 200 people caught fire in southern Philippines late Wednesday night, killing at least 10 passengers, a local official said on Thursday.

Citing an initial report, Nixon Alonzo, the chief of disaster reduction and management office in Basilan province, told a local radio that seven passengers who jumped into the sea remained missing. At least 195 passengers and 35 crew have been rescued.

He said rescuers found four bodies on the vessel, while six were brought to the shore.

ALSO READ: Philippine ferry catches fire at sea, 7 dead

"The passengers died from drowning after jumping into the water. Some suffered burns," Alonzo said.

Alonzo said the ferry, M/V Lady Mary Joy, was headed to Zamboanga City from Jolo when it caught fire in the waters off Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhammad town of Basilan province past 10 pm local time on Wednesday.

The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed the incident, saying it deployed personnel and its vessel to help in the search and rescue operations but did not give details about the casualties.

Share this story