Philippine ferry catches fire, over 200 rescued

MANILA - A domestic ferry was on fire in the southern Philippines last night but there were no reports of casualties after more than 200 people aboard were rescued, coast guard officials said on Thursday.

Armand Balilo, a spokesman of the coast guard, said rescue ships and helicopters had been sent to rescue those aboard the burning "Princess of the World" ferry.

"We are still investigating the cause of the fire," he told reporters.

The ship's manifest showed it was carrying 108 passengers, 109 crew and 5 security guards.

"The ship's still on fire. All passengers have been safely evacuated," said Alejandro Flora, Coast Guard Commander on Mindanao island.

Two US Navy speedboats, part of a training programme on rebel-infested Mindanao island, were also dispatched to help rescue efforts, said a Philippine Navy commander.

The 10,709-tonne passenger ferry caught fire some 81km off the coast of Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte province on southern Mindanao island.

The ship was on its way to the port city of Zamboanga from Manila after a stopover in central Iloilo island when the fire broke out, Balilo said.

In February last year a bomb, planted by suspected Muslim militants with links to al Qaeda, exploded aboard Superferry 14 near the mouth of Manila Bay, killing about 100 people.

- REUTERS