First bodies of Philippines ferry fire victims land as toll hits 35

The Philippine Coast Guard has commenced the arduous task of identifying victims from a ferry fire that occurred on Saturday, following the recovery of bodies from the burned-out vessel. As of now, the death toll has risen to a minimum of 35, while over 50 individuals remain unaccounted for. The remnants of the deceased were transported to Coron town, where forensic teams set up temporary tents to process and identify the victims.

Anelyn Magbanua, a 37-year-old mother, anxiously awaits news about her husband, who was returning to Coron after visiting their children in Manila when the fire broke out. Her husband's safety remains a paramount concern for her, as the loss of a loved one would be devastating. Firefighters entered the ferry for the first time on Friday, after extinguishing the blaze, which had been raging for more than a day.

The wreckage inside the vessel was devastating, with steel bed frames twisted by intense heat and blanketed in ash. The Philippine Coast Guard has stated that the immediate goal is to identify the victims and determine the cause of the fire. The Maritime Industry Authority cited survivor accounts, claiming that two explosions were heard inside the vessel shortly before the fire.

One survivor reported seeing a small amount of smoke that quickly escalated into a fire, engulfing the ferry in mere seconds. The fate of the ferry's captain remains uncertain, as Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab received reports that the captain was alive, but his name was not on the list of 43 confirmed survivors.

This incident adds to a series of deadly maritime accidents in the Philippines, a nation comprised of more than 7,600 islands where millions depend on ferries and small boats for transportation between provinces and islands.