UPDATE - Death toll from passenger ferry fire in southern Philippines climbs to 31

UPDATES WITH RISE IN DEATH TOLL; CHANGES HEADLINE

By Anadolu Staff

ANKARA (AA) - The death toll from a passenger ferry fire in Basilan province of the Philippines' southern Bangsamoro Autonomous Region has risen to 31, local media reported on Thursday.

Basilan Governor Jim Hataman-Salliman confirmed the death of 31 people, including six children, and said 14 others were injured in the incident, according to ABS-CBN News.

He added that nine people are missing according to the latest information available to the authorities.

"I don't have an accurate account of what happened because most of those rescued here in Basilan, the ones I talked to, they said the fire had already erupted when they woke up," the broadcaster reported, quoting Salliman.

Local authorities have rescued 297 people since last night, including 35 crew members, according to Salliman, who added that an investigation is underway and that the cause of the fire is currently unknown.

“We were breaking our fast when our people in Baluk-Baluk called up informing us there was a boat on fire. We immediately responded and proceeded to the area,” a local media outlet, the Inquirer said, quoting a local resident Nanoh.

Among the rescued passengers were soldiers who were on their way to report for duty in Sulu, she added.

A video on social media shows that a large portion of the vessel was destroyed by the fire, and authorities have now pulled it ashore.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid