Death toll from Philippines ferry fire rises to 35, as officials warn toll will grow

The death toll from a ferry fire off the Philippines has risen to 35, with the coast guard warning that the number is expected to grow. The fire broke out on Wednesday evening on the M/V June Aster, which was nearing its destination at the tourist hotspot of Coron, and tore through the vessel in seconds. The bodies of 30 passengers who were killed in the fire arrived at a port near Coron on Saturday morning.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, 43 people were rescued, with many receiving treatment in hospital, and searches continue for more than 50 people who remain unaccounted for. The coast guard said that most bodies had been retrieved from the sleeping area of the boat, and that the fire started in the cargo hold. Coast guard spokeswoman Noemie Cayabyab said that the remains would be turned over to police forensic investigators for proper disposition and identification.

The ferry had over 130 people on board when the blaze erupted, and some passengers were not wearing life vests. A survivor told the BBC that he had heard frantic cries onboard when the fire erupted, and was trampled by panicked people as he tried to escape. The coast guard said that more bodies remain on the boat, which they were unable to board until Friday due to toxic fumes and lingering heat.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Guardian, The Jakarta Post, Channel News Asia, Le Monde English, BBC World — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.