Five Dead, 87 Missing After Ferry Fire in the Philippines
At least five people have died and 87 remain missing after the MV June Aster caught fire while traveling from Manila to Coron, Palawan. The ferry carried 134 people, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Rescue teams have recovered bodies and evacuated survivors despite strong currents, rough seas, and large waves.
Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire. The Philippine Coast Guard and maritime agencies continue search operations and an investigation, while officials warn that casualty figures may change. The incident has renewed concerns about ferry safety, maintenance, overcrowding, and emergency procedures in the Philippines.
At least five people have died and 87 others remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Palawan in the western Philippines, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The fire broke out on the MV June Aster on Wednesday evening while the vessel was sailing from Manila toward Coron, a popular tourist destination in Palawan. The ferry was carrying 134 people, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members.
Rescue teams have so far recovered five bodies and rescued dozens of people from the burning vessel. Philippine authorities said the number of missing people could change as search and rescue operations continue.
The ferry reportedly sent a distress signal after the fire began. Strong sea currents later pushed the vessel farther from the coast, while rough weather and large waves created additional difficulties for rescue teams working in the area.
Images released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the vessel engulfed in flames as emergency responders worked to evacuate passengers. Rescuers used smaller boats to bring survivors toward shore and continued searching the surrounding waters for people who may have entered the sea.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the fire. The Philippine Coast Guard is working with maritime authorities and the ferry operator as part of an investigation into the incident.
The accident has also renewed concerns about maritime safety in the Philippines, where ferries are widely used because of the country’s thousands of islands. Maritime accidents have occurred in the past because of severe weather, overcrowding, vessel maintenance problems and enforcement challenges.
Officials have urged the public to wait for verified information as the search operation continues. Authorities have also said that the figures could be revised as rescuers locate additional survivors or victims.
The Philippine Coast Guard and other emergency teams remain involved in the search for the missing passengers. The priority remains locating survivors and determining the circumstances that led to the deadly fire.
The incident is expected to prompt further scrutiny of passenger safety measures and emergency procedures aboard ferries operating between Manila and the country’s major island destinations.
