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MANILA – A ferry carrying more than 200 people caught fire in the southern Philippines late last night, killing at least 10 passengers, a local official said today.
Citing an initial report, Nixon Alonzo, chief of the 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, reported Xinhua.
He said rescuers found four bodies on the vessel, while six were brought to the shore.
“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 10pm local time yesterday.
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. – Bernama, March 30, 2023