At least 31 people have died, and several others are still missing after a ferry carrying around 250 passengers and crew caught fire in the Southern Philippines, a provincial governor said on Thursday.
Most passengers were asleep when the fire broke out Wednesday night off the island of Basilan; a six-month-old baby is apparently among those who perished.
According to officials, the ferry caught fire from Zamboanga city on Mindanao Island to Jolo Island in Sulu province.
Most of the rescued people jumped into the Sea when the fire started; later, the coast guard, navy, another ferry and local fishermen rescued them from the water, said Jim Hataman, the governor of the Basilan province.
At least seven passengers were still missing on Thursday, and the search and rescue operation was ongoing.
According to the report, firefighters controlled the blaze early on Thursday.
The marine accident in the Philippine Sea is primarily the result of outdated ships, overcrowding, and irresponsible behaviour. Seven out of 134 were killed in the most recent accident, in May of last year.
