Ferry catches fire in Philippines

A ferry bound for the Philippines' top tourist island caught fire shortly after leaving port of Batangas 100 kilometres south of Manila on Wednesday. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said all 25 passengers aboard had been accounted for. A spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that at least 25 passengers of Caticlan-bound Cebu Ferry 1 panicked after a fire hit a portion of the ferry in Matuko Point, near Isla Verde. The fire was later extinguished by two (PCG) boats and several roll-on, roll-off (RORO) vessels. No casualties or injuries were reported. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the blaze, and how much damage it caused.