According to a provincial governor, 31 people drowned or perished in the fire and were later found on a ferry in the southern Philippines carrying about 250 passengers and personnel.
According to Governor Jim Hataman of the southern island province of Basilan, many of those saved had jumped off the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 on Wednesday during the height of the fire in a state of panic before being rescued from the water by the coast guard, military, another ferry, and local fishermen. For at least seven missing passengers, the search and recovery operation was still in progress.
The burned ferry was towed to Basilan’s shoreline, where 18 additional bodies were later found in a budget area of the passenger cabin by the coast guard and other officials, according to Hataman, who also added that the search for the ship was ongoing.
The fire caused these casualties to pass away aboard, according to Hataman. The governor announced that an investigation was in progress and that the finding implied there may have been more passengers than were indicated on the ship’s manifest.
When it took fire midway off Basilan at around midnight, the ferry was traveling from the southern port city of Zamboanga to Jolo town in the province of Sulu, according to him.
At least 23 travelers sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals.
“The commotion brought on by the fire awakened some of the guests. Some people leapt off the ship, Hataman said over the phone to The Associated Press.
The MV Lady Mary Joy 3 ship was shown being doused with water in coastguard photos as the rescued passengers were brought to the beach.
A passenger ferry caught fire past 11 pm on Wednesday, March 29, in the waters off Baluk-Baluk Island, Hadji Mutamad in Basilan. Ten people have died, nine people were injured and 230 have been rescued. 📷 Philippine Coast Guard
READ: https://t.co/lJzZvbiDxH pic.twitter.com/RtiKILlLXJ
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 30, 2023
