5 dead, many missing as Philippines ferry catches fire

A passenger ferry caught fire off Coron in the western Philippines, resulting in five deaths and 87 people reported missing, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. The incident occurred at around 6:45pm local time on Wednesday, when the June Aster ferry was en route from Baseco in Manila to Coron, Palawan. The Coast Guard reported that the vessel had 117 passengers and 17 crew members on board, totaling 134 people.

By Wednesday evening, 42 individuals had been rescued, comprising 38 passengers and four crew members. Five fatalities were also confirmed, while 87 people remained unaccounted for, as per the latest Coast Guard figures. The Coast Guard spokesperson, Noemie Cayabyab, emphasized that these were live numbers and could change as search and rescue operations continued.

Footage from the Coast Guard depicted the June Aster ablaze, with responders aiding survivors and managing casualties. Search and rescue teams from the Coast Guard and other local agencies were dispatched to the scene following the fire. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and authorities are actively searching for the remaining missing individuals from the ferry.

The Philippine Coast Guard announced that the operation to locate missing persons continued on Thursday, urging families to provide information about their relatives aboard the ship.