WEBDESK - NAYADAUR
At least five people have died and 87 remain unaccounted for after a passenger ferry caught fire off Palawan in the western Philippines, authorities said Thursday, as rescuers continued searching for survivors.
The MV June Aster was carrying 134 people — 117 passengers and 17 crew members — when the fire broke out Wednesday evening near Coron, a popular tourist destination in Palawan province.
The Philippine Coast Guard said 42 people had been rescued, including 38 passengers and four crew members. Five bodies had also been recovered, although authorities cautioned that the casualty figures could change as search and rescue operations continued.
Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab told local radio that the figure of 87 missing was based on the latest available information and remained preliminary.
“Based on the data we have right now on rescued and the casualties, we still have 87 people who are unaccounted for,” Cayabyab said, according to reports. She stressed that the numbers could change as rescuers continued their work.
Ferry Engulfed by Flames
The fire broke out at around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday near Barangay Marcilla in Coron municipality, about 1.2 nautical miles offshore. Coast Guard footage showed large flames engulfing the ferry as emergency teams and nearby vessels moved in to assist those on board.
Images from the rescue operation showed survivors being transferred from the burning vessel to smaller boats, while responders were seen recovering bodies and placing them in body bags.
The ferry had departed from Baseco Port in Manila and was bound for Coron, according to the Coast Guard. Tracking data also showed the vessel had left Manila before the incident.
Search Complicated by Sea Conditions
Rescue teams from the Philippine Coast Guard, military, local authorities, private vessels, and fishermen have been involved in the operation.
Rough seas and strong currents have complicated the search, with reports indicating that the ferry drifted away from its initial distress location. Authorities continued systematic search operations in the surrounding waters as families waited for information about missing passengers.
The identities of the five people confirmed dead had not initially been released.
Authorities have not determined what caused the fire. The Philippine Coast Guard said the cause remains under investigation, including whether factors involving the vessel itself contributed to the incident.
The disaster comes in a country where passenger ferries are a major form of transportation between islands. Maritime accidents have historically been linked to factors including severe weather, overcrowding, vessel maintenance, and safety enforcement.
For now, authorities remain focused on locating those still missing and identifying the victims as the search and rescue operation continues.