Massive fire on Philippine ferry at sea, all 120 people aboard rescued
- Flames and black smoke billowed from 2 decks of the M/V Esperanza Star that caught fire at dawn while travelling from Siquijor to Bohol province
- The coastguard rescued the 65 passengers and 55 crew members on board and helped put out the flames, which raged for five hours
All 120 passengers and crew members aboard a Philippine ferry that caught fire at sea on Sunday were rescued safely and the fire was extinguished, the coastguard said.
The M/V Esperanza Star caught fire at dawn while travelling from Siquijor province to Bohol province in the central Philippines with 65 passengers and 55 crew members, the coastguard said. It added that it deployed two vessels for rescue and to help put out the flames, which raged for more than five hours.
Photos and video released by the coastguard show flames and black smoke billowing from two decks at one end of the ferry. Coastguard personnel on board another vessel used a water cannon to put out the fire while a fishing boat and one other vessel can be seen nearby.
“All those who were on board the ferry are safe,” Joy Gumatay, coastguard spokeswoman, said in a statement but gave no further details.
She added that the survivors were brought to the port city of Tagbilaran in Bohol province and an investigation was under way.
Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.
In March, a fire broke out – and raged overnight – on a ferry carrying about 250 people and killed at least 31 passengers and crew members off the southern island province of Basilan, the coastguard said.