At least five people have died and more than 80 remain missing after a passenger-and-cargo ferry caught fire off the western Philippine island of Palawan.
The blaze broke out on Wednesday night while the vessel was travelling from Baseco in Manila to Coron, a popular tourist destination known for its diving sites and island-hopping activities.
Philippine authorities have deployed coast guard, military and civilian vessels to search for survivors, as the badly damaged ferry continued to emit thick smoke on Thursday.
Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said rescuers had been unable to board the vessel because of extreme heat and the risk of further explosions.
So far, 43 people, including two Chilean nationals, have been rescued.
According to the ferry’s manifest, 117 passengers and 17 crew members were on board, although the vessel had a maximum capacity of 330 people.
One survivor reportedly told authorities that a loud explosion came from the cargo hold shortly before the fire rapidly spread through the ferry. The cause of the explosion has not yet been established.
Some survivors were found in the sea without life jackets, raising the possibility that passengers jumped overboard to escape the flames.
The ferry was also carrying five motorcycles, an electric vehicle, a forklift, a pickup truck and other cargo. Authorities said the vessel had passed its required safety inspections before the voyage.
The Coast Guard said a full investigation would be conducted into the incident. Officials have also ruled out neither sabotage nor a possible terrorist attack, saying it is too early to draw conclusions.
The ferry’s owner, Atienza Inter-Island Ferries, said it was cooperating with the authorities and had mobilised available resources to assist with the response.
Ferry travel is widely used in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands. The country has experienced several major ferry disasters in the past, with overcrowding, rough weather and weak enforcement of safety regulations among recurring concerns.
SOURCE: CNN
