A ferry carrying more than 130 people caught fire in the northeastern Philippines on Monday, killing seven people and forcing passengers and crew members to jump into the sea where they were rescued by other vessels, the Associated Press reported. The coast guard said everyone onboard had been accounted for by midday. Twenty-four people were injured and brought to a hospital after the fire engulfed the M/V Mercraft 2 while it was approaching a seaport in Real town in Quezon province from Polillo Island. Many of the 134 passengers and crew were forced to jump into the water and were plucked from the sea by vessels in the area, coast guard officials said. The fire apparently started from the engine room, the officials said. It was brought under control and the wreckage towed to shore in Real.
