Manila: At least five people have died and 87 remain unaccounted for after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Palawan in the Philippines, triggering a major search-and-rescue operation, authorities said Thursday.
The fire broke out aboard the MV June Aster on Wednesday evening as the vessel was sailing from Manila toward Coron, a popular tourist destination in Palawan. The Philippine Coast Guard said the ferry was carrying 134 people — 117 passengers and 17 crew members.
Ferry engulfed in flames
The vessel caught fire about 2.2 kilometres offshore near Coron. Videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the ferry engulfed in flames as rescuers and nearby boats rushed to assist people in the water.
Authorities initially reported that 42 people had been rescued, including 38 passengers and four crew members. Five bodies were also recovered and brought ashore. Based on the latest figures, 87 people remained unaccounted for.
Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab cautioned that the number of missing people could change as rescue teams continue checking the passenger manifest and gathering information from survivors.
Search and rescue operation underway
The Philippine Coast Guard, supported by other government agencies and local fishermen, is continuing search operations in the waters around Coron.
Rescuers have faced difficult conditions, with rough seas and strong currents complicating efforts to locate people who may have entered the water after the fire began. Local fishermen also joined the response, helping transport survivors toward shore.
Authorities have appealed to families with relatives aboard the ferry to report missing persons so officials can establish an accurate list of those still unaccounted for.
Cause of fire remains unknown
The cause of the blaze has not yet been established. Maritime authorities are expected to investigate how the fire started and whether safety procedures were properly followed.
The incident has once again raised concerns about maritime safety in the Philippines, where ferries are an important means of transportation across the country’s thousands of islands.
Officials stressed that the current figures are provisional because search-and-rescue operations remain active.
The priority remains finding survivors and accounting for everyone who was aboard the MV June Aster.
