MANILA, Philippines — A ferry carrying about 250 passengers and crew caught hearth between Philippine islands and not less than 12 individuals have been killed with seven nonetheless lacking, a provincial governor stated Thursday.

Lots of these rescued had jumped off the ferry in panic on the top of the hearth and have been plucked from the ocean by the coast guard, navy, one other ferry and native fishermen, stated Gov. Jim Hataman of the southern island province of Basilan. The search and rescue effort was persevering with Thursday.

The governor stated most of these onboard the MV Woman Mary Pleasure 3 have been rescued in a single day however authorities have been double-checking the numbers from totally different rescue groups, suggesting the figures might change.

The ferry was enroute to Jolo city in Sulu province from the southern port metropolis of Zamboanga when it caught hearth halfway off Basilan near midnight, he stated.

The useless included not less than three kids, who apparently have been separated from their dad and mom, and not less than 23 passengers have been injured and delivered to hospitals, he stated.

“A few of the passengers have been roused from sleep as a result of commotion brought on by the hearth. Some jumped off the ship,” Hataman informed The Related Press by phone.

Most of those that died drowned and have been recovered at sea, officers stated.

The burned ferry has been towed to Basilan’s shoreline and an investigation was underway, Hataman stated.

Sea accidents are widespread within the Philippine archipelago due to frequent storms, badly maintained boats, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of security rules, particularly in distant provinces.

In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a gas tanker, killing greater than 4,300 individuals on the planet’s worst peacetime maritime catastrophe.