Manila, Mar 30 (EFE).- At least 28 people died while searchers rescued 230 after an overnight fire engulfed an inter-island passenger ferry in the southern Philippines, authorities told EFE on Thursday.

A handout photo made available by the Hadji Muhtamad Municipality (HMM) Public Information Office shows the MV Lady Mary Joy passenger vessel sitting on the shore of Basilan island, southern Philippines, 30 March 2023. EFE-EPA/HMM / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

The MV Lady Mary III ship was carrying 205 people when a fire of unknown origin spread aboard Wednesday night off the coast of Baluk Baluk Island in Mindanao.

Asia Bergami, the Basilan Emergency Center coordinator, said 126 passengers were rescued and taken to the island of Basilan.

A handout photo made available by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows a Philippine Coast Guard ship training its hose to extinguish fire on the MV Lady Mary Joy in Basilan island, southern Philippines, 30 March 2023. EFE-EPA/PCG / HANDOUT BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Seven passengers were still missing, and the situation of the remaining 60 crew members remained unknown.

The ship covered the route from the city of Zamboanga to Zulu, and it is unknown if it could have been stranded on the Basilan coast, while investigations continued on whether the ferry spilled oil into the sea as a result of the fire, the coast guard said on social media. EFE

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