Philippine Coast Guard battles smoke in search for ferry fire missing

A deadly fire aboard a Philippine ferry, the M/V June Aster, swept through the vessel in just seconds, the coast guard reported on Friday, as rescuers battled heavy smoke in the search for missing individuals. The explosion and subsequent appearance of smoke and fire occurred rapidly, with survivors stating they had no time to don life jackets before being pulled from the ship.

The still-smoldering ferry, which departed from Manila and ran aground off Coron in Palawan, remains on fire in multiple sections, with smoke still emanating from various parts. Coast guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab stated that personnel plan to enter the vessel for firefighting efforts. The ship, carrying 134 passengers and crew, had departed from Manila earlier in the day, bound for Coron on a business trip.

Of the 43 rescued, 30 were passengers and 13 were crew members. The death toll stands at five confirmed fatalities, while 84 others, including the captain and chief engineer, remain unaccounted for. The company operating the ferry, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc, affirmed cooperation with the ongoing investigation and pledged to mobilize resources to address the crisis.