At Least 31 People Killed in Ferry Fire Incident
In another maritime tragedy to hit the Philippines, a fire onboard an inter-island ferry has claimed the lives of at least 31 passengers and crew members. The MV Lady Mary Joy 3 ferry caught fire on Wednesday night while en route from Zamboanga province to Jolo, Sulu province. The cause of the fire is yet to be identified, but it lasted for eight hours and claimed the lives of 29 people, including a six-month-old baby.
Survivors of Fatal Fire Rescued
Many passengers jumped off the ferry to escape the blaze, and they were rescued by the coast guard, navy, a nearby ferry, and local fishermen. Search and rescue efforts by the Philippine Coast Guard are ongoing, while 160 passengers and 36 crew members were rescued. However, 11 people who jumped overboard have been reported to have drowned during their attempt to escape.
Rescuers Still Searching for Missing Passengers
The burnt ferry was towed to Basilan’s shoreline, where rescue teams discovered the bodies of 18 victims in a budget section of the passenger cabin. Rescuers are still searching for at least seven missing people who were on board the ferry when the fire broke out. Some of the rescued passengers had burns on their bodies, while victims found onboard were “totally burnt.”
Tragic Reminder of Poor Maritime Safety in the Philippines
The tragic incident is another reminder of poor maritime safety standards in the Philippines due to frequent storms, badly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and spotty enforcement of safety regulations. The country has a long history of such disasters due to ageing vessels being in use.
Despite numerous attempts by advocacy groups to push for reforms in the industry’s regulatory framework and investment in newer ships that would drastically improve passenger safety, the government has failed to take concerted actions to prevent such incidents.
Previous Maritime Tragedies in the Philippines
In May last year, at least seven people died in a similar incident involving a high-speed ferry carrying 134 passengers. Earlier this month, a tanker carrying industrial fuel oil sank in Oriental Mindoro province, causing widespread marine pollution.
The 1987 Dona Paz tragedy is still considered one of the deadliest peacetime shipping disasters globally. The overloaded passenger ferry collided with an oil tanker off Mindoro island south of Manila, killing around 5,000 people.
In conclusion, the Philippine Ferry Incident is another tragedy that highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations and improved safety measures in the country’s maritime industry. While search and rescue efforts continue into this tragedy, it is crucial for stakeholders and policymakers in the industry to take swift action towards reform before more innocent lives are lost.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
