A ferry carrying more than 130 people caught fire in Real, Quezon on Monday, killing seven passengers and forcing many survivors to jump into the sea where they were rescued by other vessels.
The fire rapidly spread from the engine room to the upper passenger deck of the MV Mercraft 2 while it was approaching Real, town Administrator Filomena Portales said. It had been en route to the town in Quezon province from Polillo Island.
Many of the 134 passengers and crew jumped into the water and were plucked from the sea by motorboats and cargo vessels, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officials said.
“Fishing boats and other vessels were able to approach quickly and everybody helped, so the rescue was fast,” Portales told The Associated Press by telephone, adding many of those rescued were in shock and had to be treated for burns and bruises and given dry clothes and shoes.
Pictures released by the PCG showed fire engulfing the ferry and dark smoke billowing from it. Injured survivors on stretchers were taken to waiting ambulance vans while a rescuer tried to revive an unconscious survivor by pressing on his chest.
The PCG said everyone on the ferry had been accounted for and 24 people who were injured were brought to a hospital.
Portales said seven passengers died from burns and drowning and one possibly had a heart attack while floating in the water.
PCG Spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo identified the fatalities as Viola Impresa, 47; Marivic Samareta, 61; Edna Balanac, 64; Mina Enciso, 57; Charito Escareces; 57; Crisanto Debelles, 51; and Andy Tejares, 54. Among those reported injured were John Lerry Escareces, the captain of MV Mercraft 2.
Investigators were looking into the fire and other ferries operated by the owner of MV Mercraft 2 would likely be suspended from operating while undergoing safety inspections, officials said. The wreckage was towed to shore in Real.
Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, badly maintained boats, overcrowding and weak enforcement of safety regulations. In December 1987, the ferry Doña Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,300 people in the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster.
Based on initial investigation, the vessel, with 126 passengers and eight crewmen on board, departed from Polillo Island at around 5 a.m. bound for the town of Real.
While sailing to reach its destination, a fire hit the vessel that reportedly started in its engine room, the PCG said, adding it received a distress call about the incident at around 6:30 a.m.
The PCG deployed search and rescue (SAR) teams to assist the passengers and crewmen while searching for other passengers following reports that some are missing.
Two roll-on and roll-off vessels and four motor bancas also augmented the PCG SAR operations.
The fire was put under control at around 9:33 a.m.
At around 11:30 a.m., the PCG reported that at least 103 passengers have been rescued along with 24 others who were injured. Rene Acosta with AP report
Image credits: Philippine Coast Guard via AP