At least 31 dead after the fire of a passenger ferry in the Philippines | world news

At least 31 people have died after a ferry carrying around 250 passengers and crew caught fire in the southern Philippines.

A provincial governor confirmed 31 people drowned or died in the blaze, with search and rescue efforts continuing for at least seven missing passengers.

The MV Lady Mary Joy 3 has been towed to shore in the southern island province of Basilan.

The ferry was en route to Sulu province from the southern port city of Zamboanga when it caught fire around midnight local time, said Jim Hataman, governor of Basilan.

The bodies of 18 people were discovered in a passenger cabin.

“These victims perished on board due to the fire,” Hataman added.

At least 23 passengers were injured and taken to hospital. It was discovered that some additional travelers were not listed on the ship’s documentation.

“Some of the passengers were roused from their sleep due to the commotion caused by the fire. Some jumped off the ship,” Mr Hataman continued.

Frequent storms and poorly maintained boats mean that accidents at sea are common in the Filipina archipelago. Overcrowding and uneven health and safety regulations, especially in remote provinces, also contribute.

More than 4,300 people died in December 1987, when the Dona Paz ferry sank after colliding with a tanker truck. It is known as the world’s worst maritime disaster in peacetime.