12 die after fire rips through Philippine ferry
Authorities reported Thursday that at least 12 people perished and 230 were rescued after a fire broke out on a ferry in the southern Philippines.
The Lady Mary Joy 3 was traveling from Zamboanga City on Mindanao Island to Jolo Island in Sulu province on Wednesday night when a fire broke out, prompting passengers to abandon ship, according to disaster officer Nixon Alonzo.
195 passengers and 35 crew members were saved by rescuers, including the Philippine Coast Guard and fishermen, as the ferry caught fire off Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province.
14 individuals were injured, and seven remain missing.
In addition to the 205 passengers listed on the ship's manifest, Governor Jim Salliman of Basilan stated that there may be additional missing individuals.
"Twelve cadavers have been retrieved…Salliman told AFP that three of the victims are children, including a six-month-old infant.
"There are likely passengers who were not listed on the manifest."
It was unclear what caused the fire.
Salliman stated that survivors were transported to Zamboanga and Basilan, where the injured were treated for burns.
Photos released by the coast guard depicted one of its vessels spraying water on the ablaze ferry while personnel in smaller boats rescued passengers from the murky waters.
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, is plagued by poor sea transport, with ferries prone to overcrowding and accidents due to lax regulation.
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