Five dead, 80 missing in Philippines ferry fire

MANILA: At least five people have died and more than 80 others are missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off Palawan island in the western Philippines, authorities said on Thursday.

The fire broke out aboard the MV June Aster on Wednesday night while the vessel was sailing in waters off Coron, Palawan. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said 43 people were rescued after the blaze erupted.

Coast Guard footage showed large flames engulfing parts of the ferry, with rescue teams working at the scene. The footage also showed responders placing recovered bodies in body bags.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the vessel’s manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members.

Based on the number of people rescued and the confirmed fatalities, more than 80 people remained unaccounted for. However, Cayabyab cautioned that the figures could change as rescue and recovery operations continued.

The ferry had departed from Baseco in Manila and was travelling towards Coron when the fire broke out, according to the Coast Guard.

Emergency teams continued searching the surrounding waters for survivors and missing passengers. Authorities were also working to establish the circumstances that led to the deadly blaze.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over passenger safety as authorities assess the condition of the vessel and review the circumstances surrounding the fire.