On Monday, a ferry carrying over 130 passengers caught fire in the northern Philippines, killing seven passengers and causing many survivors to jump into the water; they were rescued by other vessels.
According to town administrator Filomena Portales, the fire spread quickly from the engine room to the upper passenger deck of the M/V Mercraft 2 as it approached a port in Real. The ferry was en route to a town in Quezon province from Polillo Island.
Coast guard officials said that many of the 134 passengers and crew jumped into the water and were plucked from the sea by motorboats and cargo vessels.
The coast guard shared photos of the ship engulfed in flames with thick smoke rising. Injured survivors were transported to waiting ambulances on stretchers while a rescuer attempted to resuscitate one unconscious survivor by pressing on his chest.
The coast guard stated that 24 people were hurt and sent to the hospital. Seven individuals perished from burns and drowning, and one possibly had a heart attack while floating in the sea.
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Officials said that investigators were looking into the fire and that safety inspections would be conducted on the other ferries owned by the owner of Mercraft 2. The wreckage was towed to shore.
