Ferry blaze kills five, leaves 86 missing

A passenger-and-cargo ferry, MV June Aster, caught fire off Palawan in the western Philippines on Wednesday evening, resulting in at least five deaths and 86 people unaccounted for, as of Thursday morning. The Philippine Coast Guard reported that 43 individuals had been rescued from the vessel, which was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members on a trip from Manila to Coron.

The ferry, which remained afloat but was listing and smoldering, had departed from Baseco in Manila and was en route to Coron, a popular tourism destination in Palawan, when the fire ignited around 6:45pm. Thick smoke, intense heat, and the danger of explosions initially hindered rescue efforts. A total of 43 individuals were plucked from the sea, two of whom were Chilean nationals.

Bad weather, high waves, and strong currents complicated the rescue operations. The ferry was approximately four nautical miles from the village of Turda when it sent a distress signal but was later carried 7.68 nautical miles offshore by currents. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities cautioning against drawing conclusions at this stage.

Rescue teams employed coast guard vessels, smaller craft, army rescue boats, local fishermen, private resort operators, and even a military aircraft to aid in the rescue operation. Some of the rescued passengers required medical attention. Despite passing recent safety inspections, the ferry had a capacity of 330 people, which far exceeded the 134 individuals listed on its manifest.

The Coast Guard has opened a comprehensive investigation to determine the fire's origin and assess if safety protocols were violated. Atienza Inter-Island Ferries, the ferry's operator, has pledged its cooperation with the investigation and support to affected families.