At least 23 people were killed when a fire broke out on a Philippine inter-island ship on Thursday and about 50 are unaccounted for, the vessel's owners said.
At least 219 people were rescued from the MV Maria Carmela after it caught fire as it neared port 11 miles (18 km) off Lucena city in Quezon province, the Montenegro Shipping Lines Inc said in a statement.
Coast guard officials said 10 of those killed drowned when they jumped off the burning ship.
The company gave no details of how the 23 had died. It said a total of 243 passengers and 47 crew were on board.
The Carmela was plying from the island of Masbate to Lucena.
(China Daily April 11, 2002)
