Philippines begins identifying victims from ferry fire as dozens still missing

On Saturday, Philippine authorities initiated the painstaking process of identifying victims from a ferry fire that occurred the previous day. A total of 35 deaths have been confirmed, with over 50 people still missing. The victims' remains were transported to Coron, a town in Palawan province, where temporary tents were set up for forensic teams to process and identify the remains.

Family members anxiously awaited news of their loved ones, with one woman expressing hope for her husband's survival. Firefighters entered the MV June Aster for the first time on Friday to combat the blaze, which broke out after two explosions were heard inside the vessel. The fire consumed the economy accommodation section, leaving behind twisted bed frames and ash.

The Philippine Coast Guard stated that burnt remains were found in the affected area, with some photographs suggesting skeletal remains among the debris. The cause of the fire and the fate of the captain remain uncertain. This incident adds to the growing list of deadly maritime accidents in the Philippines, a country where millions depend on ferries and small boats for transportation.