Bodies from Philippine ferry arrive at port after fire killed at least 35

The charred remains of 35 people who died in a ferry fire in the Philippines arrived at a port on Saturday for identification. The MV June Aster, which carried 132 people, caught fire off the village of Turda, around 39km from the Port of Coron, on Wednesday evening. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, but a survivor reported hearing a blast and seeing smoke and fire rapidly spread.

Tents were set up in the Port of Borac, Coron, Palawan province, to receive the body bags from the ship carrying the remains. The coastguard is seeking the ship's captain, who is not among the confirmed survivors. The coastguard spokesperson stated that survivors recounted the incident happening rapidly, without time to put on life jackets.

The multi-agency maritime safety and criminal investigations team will look into all aspects of the incident, including whether fire emergency procedures were followed. Images revealed the charred interior of the ship, with human remains, ashes, and burnt metal. Only 35 people were confirmed dead, while 50 others were missing. The ferry had a capacity for 306 passengers and 27 crew members.

The shipping company is providing assistance to the passengers and their families while coordinating with authorities to locate the missing and determine the cause of the fire. In 1987, the Dona Paz ferry collision resulted in the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster, claiming over 4,300 lives.