Many of the passengers and crew jumped from the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 ferry during the fire and were pulled out of the sea by authorities. At least seven people are missing.
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In the Philippines, a fire on a ferry carrying some 250 passengers and crew left at least 29 dead, including six children. Search and rescue operations continue as at least seven people are missing.
The governor of Basilan province, Jim Hataman, had estimated the death toll at 31, but the coast guard only confirms the existence of 29 fatalities. On twittera journalist correspondent for Al Jazeera in the Philippines reveals that there is a possibility that the fire originated in the air conditioning cabin.
The Philippine Coast Guard says 29 passengers died in the ferry fire, including 6 children. There were a total of 225 passengers and crew. According to Coast Guard Commodore Rejard Marfe, based on survivor accounts, the fire may have originated from the air conditioning… https://t.co/K7uyBGIrhk
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) March 30, 2023
To the AP agency, Jim Hataman reveals that many of the passengers and crew jumped off the ship during the fire and were pulled out of the sea. by the coast guard, by the navy, by another ferry and also by fishermen from the region. “Some of the passengers woke up from the commotion caused by the fire. Some jumped from the boat, ”he explained, adding that at least 23 people were injured and taken to hospitals to receive medical assistance.
The ferry, which goes by the name MV Lady Mary Joy 3, was leaving the port city of Zamboanga and heading to the Sulu region when the fire broke out around midnight on Thursday off the coast of Basilan province. .
An investigation into the causes of the fire is underway, and Jim Hataman said there is a suspicion that there were additional passengers on the ferry, who were not registered. In total, according to the Reuters agency, the boat had the capacity to transport up to 430 people.
Source: Observadora
