At least three minors were among the 31 passengers killed when the ferry caught fire.

 

Image from Pexels 

Dozens of passengers, including a six-month-old infant, were killed when a tourist ferry in the Philippines caught fire. Following the fire on the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 off the southern province of Basilan on Wednesday evening, at least 23 people were wounded and taken to the hospital. Rescuers are still looking for at least seven missing passengers, with fears that there were additional passengers on board who were not mentioned in the ship's manifest. The ferry is fully engulfed in flames, according to shocking video footage. According to regional governor Jim Hataman, survivors jumped into the water and were rescued by the coast guard, another passing vessel, and local fishermen. 'Some of the passengers were roused from their sleep due to the commotion created by the fire,' he said. Some people leapt off the ship.' Several victims drowned and were recovered at sea, while 18 were found in the passenger cabin's budget section, he added. 

The ferry, which was en route from the southern port city of Zamboanga to Jolo town in Sulu province when it caught fire, was towed to Basilan's shoreline, and an investigation is ongoing. The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,600 islands, has a bad track record when it comes to maritime safety.

Due to frequent storms, poorly maintained boats, overcrowding, and sporadic implementation of safety rules, sea accidents are prevalent, particularly in remote provinces. The ferry Dona Paz sank in December 1987 after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing over 4,300 people in the world's worst peacetime maritime catastrophe. 

By Covenant 



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