Seven people are confirmed dead after a passenger vessel caught fire off Quezon province, Philippines, on Monday, May 23.
The FRP-hulled fast ferry Mercraft 2 was approaching the Port of Real after having earlier departed nearby Polillo Island when a blaze ignited on board on the morning (local time) of Monday.
Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and the crews of some nearby Good Samaritan vessels came to the aid of the burning ferry, rescuing 123 people in the process. Twenty-six individuals suffered serious injuries and have since been brought to hospital.
The coast guard said the fire on Mercraft 2 was under control by 10:00 on Monday. However, search and rescue/recovery operations were still ongoing as of 11:00 to locate four other people who were on board the ferry when the incident occurred.
