On Wednesday night, an inter-island ferry caught fire in the southern Philippines, resulting in the death of at least 28 people, while many of the 250 passengers attempted to escape the blaze by jumping overboard into the dark waters. According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 was sailing southwest from Zamboanga province to Jolo, Sulu province when the fire broke out at around 11 p.m. local time.
Several passengers jumped off the vessel after hearing an explosion, while Basilan residents attempted to save those that had jumped off the ship. Some passengers sustained burn injuries, according to Arsina Kahing-Nanoh, a municipal mayor in Basilan province. Dramatic videos released by the Basilan provincial government show the ship ablaze as it reaches the shore, with a crowd of residents attempting to save survivors from the wreckage. The Philippines has a poor maritime safety record, with old and overcrowded vessels being a common sight in the Southeast Asian country.
In May last year, a high-speed ferry carrying 134 people caught fire about 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of Manila, resulting in the death of at least seven people. Earlier this month, a tanker carrying 800,000 liters (211,340 gallons) of industrial fuel oil sank in Oriental Mindoro province southwest of Manila, polluting the shores of at least three provinces and posing a threat to the country's diverse marine life. As of Thursday, search and rescue efforts were still ongoing.