Passenger Ship with 82 Onboard Catches Fire in Philippine Waters... 9 Missing

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A fire broke out on a passenger ship operating in Philippine waters on the 26th (local time), resulting in 9 missing persons out of 82 crew members on board.

According to foreign media including AFP, the passenger ship 'MV Asia Philippine' caught fire while passing near Batangas Port close to the capital Manila.

The coast guard dispatched rescue teams after receiving the accident report and rescued 73 people who jumped into the sea, but 9 remain missing. The exact cause of the fire has not been disclosed.

The vessel departed from Calapan Port on Mindoro Island at noon the previous day. At that time, 48 passengers and 34 crew members were on board. The passenger ship's maximum allowed capacity was reported to be 402 people.

In the Philippines, on June 26, a fire accident occurred on the passenger ship 'Mama Mary Chloe' near Bohol Island in central Philippines, resulting in one passenger dead and another missing out of a total of 165 people on board.

On May 22, a fire broke out on a passenger ship near Real Port in Quezon Province, 60 km east of the capital Manila. 127 passengers were rescued, but 5 women and 2 men died.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.