Passenger ship on fire in the Philippines

Local authorities report the dead and missing.

A ferry carrying more than 200 people caught fire off the coast of Basilan province in the southern Philippines late tonight. According to media reports, the fire on the Lady Mary Joy vessel occurred near Baluk-Baluk Island.

Initially, local authorities reported 12 dead, including children. By morning, the death toll had risen to 31, another 23 passengers were burned and injured, and seven were missing.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. Rescuers suggest that the emergency could happen due to the fact that the ship ran aground. However, so far they have not found any traces of a fuel spill or missing persons. As far as is known, there were no Russian citizens on board the ship.