Five killed and 80 missing after fire engulfs Philippines ferry
At least five people died and dozens went missing after a ferry caught fire on the waters off the western Philippines on Wednesday night. The coast guard said 42 people have been rescued and efforts are ongoing to find more than 80 others missing since the incident near Palawan island. The ferry MV June Aster, … The post Five killed and 80 missing after fire engulfs Philippines ferry appeared…
A ferry fire off the coast of the Philippines claimed at least five lives and left around 80 people unaccounted for on Wednesday night. The coast guard rescued 42 individuals, with the missing number likely to rise. The MV June Aster, carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew, was en route from Manila to Coron in Palawan province when the fire broke out.
Flames engulfed parts of the vessel, leaving rescuers to place bodies in body bags and toss life jackets to survivors. Coast guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab confirmed that 38 of the rescued were passengers and four crew members. The injured were taken to an evacuation center, while thick smoke continued to billow from the burning ferry.
The blaze was doused by Thursday morning, but rescue efforts persisted, as sea currents had carried the ferry several nautical miles from its original position. Coast guard information officer Joy Gumatay stated that the cause of the fire remained unknown, and the shipping company was yet to comment on the matter.
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