Fire on passenger ferry in Philippines kills at least 28

At least 28 people have died and 230 have been rescued after a passenger ferry caught fire on Wednesday evening in the seas off the southern Philippine province of Basilan.

The blaze started in air-conditioned cabins, said Commodore Rejard Marfe, coast guard chief in southern Mindanao.

The ferry has a capacity to carry up to 430 people.

Photographs shared by the Coast Guard showed the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 ship being sprayed with water, while rescued passengers were brought to the shore.

The Coast Guard said it will assist in an investigation and safety assessment, as well check for any signs of an oil spill.

The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, has a poor record for maritime safety, with vessels often overcrowded and many ageing ships still in use.

In May, at least seven people died after a fire in a high-speed Philippine ferry carrying 134 people.

INCIDENT REPORT: The @coastguardph assisted in the conduct of SAR operations during the fire onboard M/V LADY MARY JOY 3 in the vicinity waters off Baluk-Baluk Island, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, yesterday, 29 March 2023.

FULL STORY HERE: https://t.co/84qVniPt3p

### pic.twitter.com/w88mvFSs8p

— Philippine Coast Guard (@coastguardph) March 29, 2023