A Philippines ferry carrying 120 passengers and crew members caught fire at sea and a coast guard vessel, authorities announced on Sunday, noting that all those onboard were rescued.
“All those who were onboard the ferry are safe,” Joy Gumatay, coast guard spokeswoman, said in a statement but gave no further details.
Gumatay highlighted that the survivors were brought to the port city of Tagbilaran in Bohol province, adding that an investigation was underway.
Meanwhile, the coast guard revealed that the incident took place at dawn while travelling from Siquijor province to Bohol province in the central Philippines with 65 passengers and 55 crewmembers.
Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago due to frequent storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.
Last March, a fire broke out on a ferry carrying nearly 250 people and left at least 31 passengers dead, according to the coast guard.
In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing over 4,300 people. This was the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster.
