Two killed, more than 100 missing after ferry blast

A POWERFUL explosion ripped through a passenger ferry carrying about 900 people in the Philippines early yesterday, sparking an inferno that left more than 100 people missing.

Two people were known to have died and 12 were injured, officials said. Most of the 744 passengers and the entire crew of 155 survived by jumping into the sea or boarding rescue boats.

But the fate of about 100 passengers remained unknown officials said they might have been picked up by fishing boats, trapped inside the blazing ferry or drowned. Twice, the fire appeared to be out, only to rekindle. Shortly after dawn, more than five hours after the blaze erupted, two loud successive explosions inside the back section of the ferry were followed by billowing black smoke and walls of flame.

Listing to starboard, the steel-hulled Superferry 14 was towed into a cove in Mariveles town on the Bataan Peninsula, near the mouth of Manila Bay, where it lay on one side in shallow water, still smouldering.

The ship's owner, WG&A, said two bodies had been recovered. At least 12 people were injured, most with burns, the coast guard said. There were conflicting reports about what caused the explosion and fire. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Danilo Abinoja said it may have originated in the engine room, while a passenger said an air conditioner exploded.

A WG&A spokeswoman said: "The fire started in the tourist section on the third deck, which includes air-conditioned sleeping cabins and a dining area. We don't know what really happened."

A Dutch passenger said he was sleeping in a cabin with his wife and son when they were awakened by a strong explosion. They assembled on the deck and were lowered onto a waiting boat.