At least seven people died and 31 others were rescued when three ferry boats separately capsized in bad weather on Saturday (Aug 3) between two central Philippine island provinces, the coast guard said.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that police said at least seven people were missing after the inter-island ferries either turned over or sank in rough seas, wind and rain between Guimaras and Iloilo provinces.

A search by the coast guard, police and villagers was under way.

The dead included six women and a man, coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said, adding that one of the ferry boats, M/B Chichi, was carrying at least 42 passengers.

Another boat, M/B Keizha, reportedly had four crewmen on board, while the third ferry, M/B Jenny, carried an unspecified number of people who were rescued and brought on board a coast guard ship, he said.