Manila, Philippines — An island ferry with 165 passengers and crew ignited in central Philippines on Sunday, killing one, missing another, and successfully rescuing the rest, the Coast Guard said. rice field.
According to Coast Guard officials, the fire struck the ship Mama Mary Chloe shortly after noon near a village on two islands in Bohol. A search backed by a fishing vessel was underway for one missing person.
Social media footage showed people in life jackets swaying in the sea, engulfing the ship in thick black smoke.
The ferry, carrying 157 passengers, including eight crew members and fifteen children, was on its way from Bohol to the eastern part of Leyte.
Marine accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago due to frequent storms, poorly maintained boats, overcrowding, and weak safety regulations.
In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank in a collision with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,300 people in the world’s worst normal marine accident.
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