A dramatic rescue operation unfolded off the coast of the Philippines on Sunday as a passenger ferry, the M/V Esperanza Star, erupted in flames. The Philippine Coast Guard successfully evacuated all 120 individuals on board – 65 passengers and 55 crew members – before the fire could claim any lives.

The coast guard employed a water cannon from a nearby vessel to battle the blaze, ultimately extinguishing it at 2 a.m. local time. The ferry was en route from Siquijor island to Bohol island in the southern Philippines when the fire broke out. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident and have not yet disclosed the location where the rescued passengers and crew were taken.

Images of the rescue depict coast guard vessels surrounding the burning ferry, working to bring the situation under control. This incident follows another ferry fire in the Philippines just months ago, a tragedy that resulted in over two dozen fatalities out of approximately 250 people on board.

This maritime incident comes on the heels of a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the Philippines on Thursday, though no casualties were reported in connection with the quake. The Philippines is situated within the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a geologically active zone prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Mayon Volcano, the country's most active volcano, is currently experiencing a mild eruption that has prompted the evacuation of approximately 18,000 residents in the Albay province.