42 die as packed ferry catches fire

MANILA: An overcrowded ferry caught fire at sea yesterday forcing passengers to jump overboard without life jackets.

At least 42 people - many of them women and children - were killed.

Rescuers plucked 142 passengers from waters near Lucena City, 96 kilometres southeast of Manila, after the Viva Antipolo caught fire at 1 am.

The ferry sank two hours later.

Officials believe more than 200 passengers and crew were on board, but some of those rescued insisted there were 300 passengers.

The search was called off at nightfall but officials were hopeful there would be more survivors because the accident occurred three km off a breakwater and some passengers may have been picked up by fishermen.