31 dead as passengers forced to jump from burning ferry in Philippines
- The Lady Mary Joy 3, carrying about 250 passengers, was travelling from the southern port city of Zamboanga City to Jolo in Sulu province when the fire broke out
- Most of the victims drowned or died in the blaze and were recovered at sea with seven people still missing
Many of those rescued had jumped off the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 in panic at the height of the fire and were plucked from the sea by the coastguard, navy, another ferry and local fishermen, said governor Jim Hataman of the southern island province of Basilan. The search and rescue effort was continuing on Thursday for at least seven missing passengers.
The burned ferry was towed to Basilan’s shoreline, where coastguard personnel and other authorities later discovered 18 more bodies in a budget section of the passenger cabin, Hataman said, adding the search of the vessel was continuing.
“These victims perished on board due to the fire,” Hataman said. The governor said an investigation was under way and the discovery suggested there were additional travellers not listed on the vessel’s manifest.
The ferry was en route to Jolo town in Sulu province from the southern port city of Zamboanga when it caught fire midway off Basilan close to midnight, he said.
The dead included at least three children, who apparently were separated from their parents, and at least 23 passengers were injured and brought to hospitals, he said.
“Some of the passengers were roused from sleep due to the commotion caused by the fire. Some jumped off the ship,” Hataman said by telephone.