Philippine rescuers pull more victims from charred ferry

In Coron, Philippines, rescuers have recovered the bodies of 41 victims from the M/V June Aster ferry, which caught fire and sank after an explosion in its hold. The 24-year-old vessel was carrying vacationers, businesspeople, and families on a trip to Coron in Palawan. Of the 76 confirmed dead, nearly all were found onboard the grounded ferry.

Some areas, such as the cargo deck and engine room, are still unsearched. The water remains high, focusing efforts on retrieving any additional bodies. The coast guard confirmed the death toll has risen to 76 passengers and crew. Thirty more charred bodies were brought ashore on Sunday, with DNA analysis required for identification.

Some victims were found embraced in their final moments. The Philippine Coast Guard, aided by fishermen, has not yet recovered any missing persons, with 13 people, including the captain, still considered missing. The archipelago nation has a history of disasters involving inter-island ferries, many of which are cheap and poorly regulated. The investigation is ongoing, and assigning blame remains uncertain.