Seven dead and more than 120 rescued from water after ferry fire in Philippines

Smoke billows from ferry M/V Mercraft 2 as it is towed to an island off of the town of Real, Quezon province, Philippines, on Monday, May 23 2022 (Philippine Coastguard/AP)

A ferry carrying more than 130 people caught fire in north-east Philippines, killing seven passengers and forcing many survivors to jump into the sea where they were rescued by other vessels.

The fire rapidly spread from the engine room to the upper passenger deck of the M/V Mercraft 2 while it was approaching a port in Real, town administrator Filomena Portales said.