MANILA
\nThe number of people killed in a fire that ripped through a ferry in the southern Philippines has risen to 31, the local governor said Thursday, after more bodies were found inside the burned-out wreckage.
\n\u201cWe initially have 13 deaths recorded, then we have 18 new deaths, so it\u2019s now 31 deaths,\u201d Basilan governor Jim Hataman-Salliman said.
\nMany of those rescued had jumped off the ferry in panic at the height of the fire and were plucked from the sea by the coast guard, navy, another ferry and local fishermen, said Hataman-Salliman. The search and rescue effort was continuing Thursday.
\nThe governor said most of those onboard the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 were rescued overnight but authorities were double-checking the numbers from different rescue teams, suggesting the figures could change.
\nThe ferry was enroute to Jolo town in Sulu province from the southern port city of Zamboanga when it caught fire midway off Basilan close to midnight, he said.
\nThe dead included at least three children, who apparently were separated from their parents, and at least 23 passengers were injured and brought to hospitals, he said.
\n\u201cSome of the passengers were roused from sleep due to the commotion caused by the fire. Some jumped off the ship,\u201d Hataman-Salliman said by telephone.
\nMost of those who died drowned and were recovered at sea, officials said.
\nThe burned ferry has been towed to Basilan\u2019s shoreline and an investigation was underway, Hataman-Salliman said.
\nSea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, badly maintained boats, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.
\nIn December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,300 people in the world\u2019s worst peacetime maritime disaster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MANILA The number of people killed in a fire that ripped through a ferry in the southern Philippines has risen to 31, the local governor said Thursday, after more bodies were found inside the burned-out wreckage. \u201cWe initially have 13 deaths recorded, then we have 18 new deaths, so it\u2019s now 31 deaths,\u201d Basilan governor […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":322907,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-322881","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n