At least 31 dead after a fire on a ferry

First modification: 03/30/2023 – 09:54Last modification: 03/30/2023 – 10:04

The ferry “Lady Mary Joy 3” was traveling from Zamboanga City to Jolo Island in Sulu province when the fire broke out late Wednesday, sending passengers throwing themselves overboard, rescue official Nixon said. Alonzo.

“Initially we had 13 deaths registered. Then we had 18 new deaths, so now there are 31,” Jim Salliman, governor of Basilan province, off whose coasts the tragedy occurred, told AFP.

Among the bodies initially recovered, “three of them were children, including a six-month-old baby,” it added.

Rescuers, supported by the Philippine coast guard and fishermen, saved 195 passengers and 35 crew members after the incident near Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province.

Fourteen people were injured, authorities said earlier.

According to Governor Salliman, there could be more victims because the number of passengers exceeded the 205 indicated on the boarding list of the ferry.

“There are probably passengers who did not register on the boarding list,” he added.

It was not clear how the fire started.

The survivors were taken to Basilan, where the injured were treated for burns, according to Salliman.

Photos released by the Coast Guard showed a ship throwing water at the burning ferry, while personnel in small boats picked up passengers from the water.

The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, has poor shipping with frequent accidents on its ferries, prone to overcrowding and accidents.