Hundreds rescued in Philippine ferry fire

MANILA, June 10 (Reuters) Hundreds of people were rescued when a wooden-hulled ferry caught fire in rough seas near Mindoro island in the southern Philippines today, a coast guard spokesman said.

Commander Joseph Coyme said 255 crew and passengers of the ferry, MV Catalin-D, were rescued by passing fishing boats and a Philippine Coast Guard ship. Five people died.

''Based on our initial investigation, the fire started in the ship's cargo bay,'' Coyme told reporters as dozens of people plucked from the sea were brought back to Manila.

''An investigation is underway to determine what caused the fire.'' Coyme said the coast guard received distress signals early today morning, a few hours before the fire engulfed the ferry, causing it to sink. The ferry left Manila late yesterday night for Palawan.

The Philippines' worst ferry disaster was in the 1990s when a ferry collided with an oil tanker in the central Philippines, killing about 5,000 people.

REUTERS SLD BST1645