MANILA - A 59-year old female passenger was killed while 22 others were missing when a roll-on-roll-off (Roro) vessel sank off central Philippine province of Masbate early Friday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

As of 8:30 am, the state agency said that 34 passengers were rescued from MV Lady of Mount Carmel that capsized near the Burias Island in Masbate.

The fatality was identified as Perlita Zena.

According to the PCG, the Coast Guard Masbate received a call from Masbate police, informing about the incident at around 5:30 am.

The Coast Guard manned fisheries vessel, MCS 3006, and a chopper were immediately deployed in the area for search and rescue operation.

The ill-fated ship, which has the capacity of 212 people, carried 22 crew members and 35 passengers when the tragedy happened, the PCG said, noting that there was no overloading.

The vessel came from Pio Duran in the northern province of Albay and was on its way to Aroroy, Masbate when the accident occurred.

Authorities were yet to determine the cause of the incident.