The death toll from the fire that broke out on a ferry carrying more than 200 people in the southern Philippines has risen to 28, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday.
The M/V Lady Mary Joy 3, a passenger and cargo vessel, was headed to Jolo from Zamboanga City when it caught fire in the waters off Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad town of Basilan province late Wednesday night.
The PCG said that 18 torched bodies were found in different parts of the ferry, while another 10 bodies were plucked out from the sea and 230 people were rescued.
Authorities are looking into the cause of the fire, which reportedly started in an air-conditioned cabin in the vessel. Most of the passengers were asleep when the fire broke out.
The PCG said it deployed personnel and its vessel to help in the search and rescue operation, which continues at the time.
