Five dead, more than 80 missing after Philippine ferry fire

PALAWAN, Philippines - Five individuals have lost their lives and over 80 others are still unaccounted for following a fire onboard a passenger ferry off Palawan island in the western Philippines, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. The MV June Aster, which was ferrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members from Manila to Coron, experienced the blaze on Wednesday evening. Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab revealed that the vessel had rescued 43 people thus far.

The fire ignited around 6:45 PM while the ferry was near Coron in Palawan province. It initially sent a distress signal about 4 nautical miles, or 7.4 kilometers, off Turda village. However, strong currents subsequently pushed the burning ship approximately 7.68 nautical miles, or 14.2 kilometers, away from the village. Despite being afloat by late Thursday morning, thick smoke continued to emanate from the vessel.

Rescue efforts were complicated by bad weather conditions and large waves. Survivors were assisted onto smaller boats and transferred to shallow water, while bodies were placed in bags before being arranged near a port. Coast guard personnel were observed throwing life jackets to survivors amidst the smoldering ferry. Unfortunately, there is currently no information regarding the presence of foreigners among those aboard the MV June Aster.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with the coast guard working in coordination with the shipping company and maritime authorities.

In the Philippines, ferries are a prevalent mode of transportation across the archipelago. Maritime accidents have occurred due to various factors including storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations.