Philippine authorities have announced the rescue of 127 people who were aboard a ferry that caught fire off the island of Panglao in the early hours of Sunday.
According to the Philippine news channel ABS-CBN, 65 passengers and 62 crew members of the M/V Esperanza Star, operated by the shipping company Cebu Sea Charterers, were safely rescued and transported to shore via rescue boats. Some were able to swim and reach the shore.
Anthony Damalerio, the head of disaster management in Bohol province, said the fire broke out on the ferry off Panglao Island, a famous tourist destination. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but Damalerio speculated that it may have started in the engine room.
The Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Maritime Industry Authority are set to conduct an official investigation into the cause of the fire.
The ferry was en route from Siquijor province to Bohol province in central Philippines when the fire broke out.
Photos and videos released by the coast guard showed flames and black smoke billowing from the ferry as coast guard personnel aboard another vessel used water hoses to try to extinguish the fire.
Maritime accidents are common in the Philippines due to frequent storms, poorly maintained vessels, and intermittent enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.
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