Page 11 - AT

A11
WORLD NEWS Thursday 29 augusT 2019

245 rescued from burning ferry in Philippine waters, 3 dead

By JIM GOMEZ ship in the area, so it alert-
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — ed nearby vessels to help in
Fishing boats and passing the rescue. "It's good that
ships rescued 245 people a number of ships immedi-
from a ferry that burned ately responded," he said.
overnight in choppy waters It was unclear whether
in the southern Philippines any people were missing,
but at least three people but none was reported by
perished, including a child, relatives. The search would
coast guard officials said nevertheless continue,
Wednesday. Balilo said around noon
Survivors described how Wednesday.
they feared being killed Meanwhile, in the north-
by either the fire or waves ern Philippines, ferries were
while waiting for hours warned not to venture to
to be rescued as bright- sea after a fast-moving
orange flames engulfed storm blew across the main
much of the vessel, the This undated photo provided by Philippine Coast Guard in Manila shows the M/V Lite Ferry 16 be- island of Luzon overnight.
M/V Lite Ferry 16, off Dapi- ing docked at a port in Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte province in southern Philippines. Heavy rain fell in some
tan city in Zamboanga del Associated Press northern provinces, but no
Norte province. casualties or major dam-
The fire apparently started because I thought there sengers allowed a group the ferry untouched by the age were reported, offi-
in the engine room, coast were only two ways that of the elderly, women and flames, he said he and the cials said.
guard spokesman Armand I could end: I could get children to be rescued first others decided to go for it Sea accidents are com-
Balilo said. Despite the burned alive or I may by a passenger speed boat and dove into the sea. mon in the Philippine ar-
damage, the ferry stayed drown," Wilfredo Castro, a but when their turn came, They struggled in the strong chipelago because of fre-
afloat about 3 kilometers businessman, told The Asso- the waves grew more dan- waves but reached a wait- quent storms, badly main-
(1.8 miles) off Dapitan city, ciated Press by telephone gerous in the darkness. ing rescue boat, he said. tained boats, overcrowd-
where it was heading from after being rescued. "The waves were too strong "This is my second life," the ing and weak enforcement
Santander in central Cebu Some passengers jumped and rescue boats may not 30-year-old businessman of safety regulations. In
province. off the ferry in panic when be able to find us if we said with relief, although December 1987, the ferry
The victims were a 1-year- the fire broke out before jumped into the sea," Cas- he lost a laptop, a camera, Dona Paz sank after collid-
old girl and two male pas- midnight Tuesday and were tro said. After about five a cellphone, clothes and ing with a fuel tanker, killing
sengers in their 60s, Balilo rescued by passing vessels. hours of frantic waiting in other belongings. more than 4,341 people in
said. Castro said he and about the ferry's cargo loading Balilo said the coast guard the world's worst peace-
"I was thinking of the Lord 30 mostly male fellow pas- bay, one of the parts of did not have any patrol time maritime disaster.q
Japan's move to lower South Korea trade status takes effect

By YURI KAGEYAMA decided to similarly down- ous situation because of
Associated Press grade Tokyo's trade status, South Korea's repeated
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's which will take effect next negative and irrational ac-
downgrading of South Ko- month. Seoul has also can- tions, including the most
rea's trade status took ef- celed a deal to share mili- critical issue of laborers
fect Wednesday, a deci- tary intelligence with Ja- from the Korean Peninsu-
sion that has already set off pan. la," Japanese government
a series of reactions hurting South Korea has accused spokesman Yoshihide Suga
bilateral relations. Japan of weaponizing told reporters.
Japanese manufacturers trade because of a sepa- Suga was referring to South
now must apply for approv- rate dispute linked to Ja- Korea's Supreme Court rul-
al for each technology- pan's colonial rule of the ing last year that said the
related contract for South Korean Peninsula from 1910 wartime compensation
Korean export, rather than to 1945. deal, signed in 1965, did
the simpler checks granted Japan denies retaliating not cover individual rights
a preferential trade part- and says wartime compen- to seek reparations and
ner, which is still the status sation issues were already ordered Japanese compa-
of the U.S. and others. settled. nies to compensate victims
Since Japan announced "Relations between Japan of forced labor. Suga said In this Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, photo, Japan's Trade Minister Hi-
the decision about two and South Korea continue Japan will continue to try to roshige Seko speaks during a press conference in Tokyo.
months ago, South Korea to be in an extremely seri- talk to South Korea.q Associated Press