Authorities said at least 31 people died after a Wednesday night ferry fire in the Philippines, The Associated Press (AP) reported Thursday.
Gov. Jim Hataman of Basilan, a southern island province, said the ferry, MV Lady Mary Joy 3, was traveling between the town of Jolo in the Sulu province and the port city of Zamboanga at the time of the blaze, according to AP.
Hataman said many survivors from the ferry were rescued after jumping into the dark sea to escape the flames. Rescuers are still searching for seven missing people, the outlet reported.
Philippine Coast Guard officials said 225 people from the burning vessel were accounted for as rescued. The ferry is currently beached in Basilan, according to Reuters. (RELATED: Coast Guard Rescues Hundreds Of Passengers From Ferry On Fire)
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
“I thought I was dreaming but when I opened my eyes it was dark and we were surrounded by smoke,” passenger Mina Nani told DZRH radio, adding that she survived by jumping overboard, Reuters reported.
Coast Guard Commodore Rejard Marfe told Reuters of “chaos” aboard the ferry as many were sleeping at the time of the blaze. He added that around 18 victims were found “totally burnt.”
With over 7,600 islands, The Philippines relies on ferries although vessels tend to be old and overloaded. Another ferry fire in the island nation killed at least seven in May 2022, the outlet reported.