35 dead, 54 missing after Philippines ferry fire; survivors recount desperate escape
The death toll from a ferry fire in the Philippines has risen to 35 after more bodies were recovered from the burned wreck on Friday. Another 54 people remain missing, authorities said.
The fire broke out on Wednesday night as the passenger ferry was sailing from Manila towards Coron in Palawan province. According to the Philippine coast guard, the vessel was around 7.4 kilometres off the village of Turda, near its destination, when the fire was reported. The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.
There were 43 survivors from the incident, according to AP. Images released by the coast guard showed the gutted interior of the vessel, with what appeared to be charred remains, ashes and burnt metal, including a car.
Rescue operations were hampered on Thursday by intense heat and smoke inside the vessel, slowing efforts to reach areas where passengers may have been trapped.
Survivor Arnulfo Nokki Villanueva recounted the fire in a video broadcast by News5, saying the blaze spread rapidly.
“The fire quickly spread. That's when I dropped to the ground and my back was burned,” he told AP, adding that he escaped by jumping from a window.
“I wanted to get a life jacket but failed to get one because people were stepping on me. According to the manifest, 134 people were listed as being on board — 117 passengers and 17 crew members. The 53-metre vessel had a capacity for 306 passengers and 27 crew. Two survivors were tourists from Chile, according to Rachel Conserman, a staffer of the ship's owner, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc.
The country has experienced several major maritime disasters.
