Asia
Fire on passengers ferry kills 10 in Philippines
A passenger ferry caught fire in the waters off the southern Philippine province of Basilan on Wednesday evening, killing ten people and rescuing 230, according to a coast guard spokesman.
Commodore Rejard Marfe, coast guard head in southern Mindanao, told the DZMM radio station that nine persons were hurt in the fire that began in air-conditioned cabins. The boat can transport up to 430 passengers.
The Coast Guard tweeted photos of the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 ship being splashed with water while rescued passengers were escorted to land.
The Coast Guard said that it would help with an investigation and safety assessment, as well as look for evidence of an oil leak.
The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,600 islands, has a terrible track record for marine safety, with boats often overloaded and many outdated ships still in service.
In May, at least seven people were killed when a fire broke out on a high-speed Philippine ferry carrying 134 passengers.
