On June 18, a Philippine ferry carrying 120 passengers and crew caught fire at sea.
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| Scene of the ferry fire on June 18 in the Philippines. (Source: AP) |
The AP news agency quoted coast guard officials as saying that authorities had mobilized a coast guard vessel to rescue those on board the ferry as well as extinguish the fire.
Meanwhile, Xinhua news agency quoted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Cebu City as saying that no one was injured in the incident. The PCG is investigating the cause of the fire.
According to PCG, when the accident happened, the ferry M/V Esperanza Star was on its way from Siquijor province to Bohol province in the central Philippines.
Maritime accidents occur frequently in the Philippines due to frequent storms, poorly maintained ships and boats, and overloading.
In March this year, a ferry carrying about 250 people also caught fire off the coast of Basilan province in the southern Philippines, killing at least 31 passengers and crew.
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