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

Thirty passengers and 13 crew have so far been rescued, while 54 people remain unaccounted for.

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

Fifty-four people remain missing after a ferry fire off the Philippines, with 35 bodies of victims now in Coron port. The M/V June Aster ran aground near tourist hotspot Coron after the Wednesday fire tore through the vessel in seconds. Coast guard spokeswoman Noemie Cayabyab stated that bodies were found in the ship's economy accommodation area and would be turned over to police for identification.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with 30 bodies already transferred due to capacity limits. The ferry was carrying 134 crew and passengers and goods, with the Philippine coast guard warning the death toll could rise. Family members anxiously await news of loved ones, with many turning to social media to locate missing relatives. The Philippine archipelago has a history of ferry disasters, with regular accidents plaguing its transport system.

Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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