Philippine ferry fire claims at least seven lives

Seven people died after a high-speed ferry caught fire in the Philippines on Monday, with another seven of the 134 people who were on board still missing, the coastguard said.

The Mercraft 2 caught fire before reaching the port of Real in Quezon province, about 60 kilometres east of the capital, Manila, on the main island of Luzon.

It left Polillo Island at 5am and made a distress call at 6.30am.

Five women and two men died, while 120 passengers were rescued. Twenty-three people, including the captain, were treated for injuries, the coastguard said.

The fire appears to have started in the engine room, Philippine coastguard spokesman Cdre Armando Balilo said.

Pictures shared by the coastguard showed people in life vests floating at sea awaiting rescue as fire and thick smoke engulfed the ferry.

The two-storey passenger boat had a 186-person capacity.

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