A ferry bound for the Philippines' top tourist island caught fire shortly after leaving port on Wednesday, but the coast guard said all 25 passengers aboard had been accounted for.
The MV Cebu Ferries 1 sent a distress call after leaving the port of Batangas 100 kilometres south of Manila, coast guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Algier Ricafrente told AFP.
“The coast guard deployed two vessels to assist, while commercial vessels in the area also helped,” he said.
He said all aboard had been accounted for, and the fire put under control.
Ricafrente could not say whether there were foreigners aboard the ferry.
The vessel was headed to the port of Caticlan, gateway to Boracay island in the central Philipines which is famed for its pristine waters and powdery white sand beaches. Nearly one million people visited Boracay last year.
- Sapa-AFP-IOL
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