A fire broke out on a ferry crossing between two Philippine islands. The fire has since been extinguished. It is still unclear whether any of the 120 people on board were injured.
A Philippine ferry with 65 passengers and 55 crew on board caught fire at sea. At that time, the “Esperanza Star” was on the crossing from Siquijor to Bohol – two Philippine islands.
The Coast Guard sent a ship to the scene of the accident to save the 120 people and extinguish the fire if possible. Photos and footage released by the Coast Guard showed flames and thick black smoke on two decks at the stern of the ferry while the crew of another vessel attempted to put out the blaze with water cannons. A fishing boat also rushed to help.
The Coast Guard reported that the fire had been extinguished. All people could have been saved. It was unclear whether anyone was injured.
Frequent marine casualties in the Philippines
Marine casualties are common in the Philippine archipelago due to frequent storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding and poor enforcement of safety regulations, particularly in remote provinces.
In March, a fire broke out overnight on a ferry with about 250 people on board. At least 31 people were killed off the southern island province of Basilan. In December 1987, the Dona Paz ferry sank after colliding with a fuel tanker. With 4,100 dead, it was one of the worst accidents at sea.