Five Dead and 87 Missing After Ferry Fire in Philippines

Five people have been confirmed dead and 87 remain unaccounted for following a fire aboard a passenger ferry near Coron, Palawan, in the Philippines.

Search and rescue operations are continuing as authorities work to locate those still missing. The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.

The fire reportedly started at around 6:45 p.m. local time on September 9 aboard the passenger ferry *June Aster *which had departed from Manila and was sailing to Coron on Busuanga Island when the incident occurred. According to the ship’s manifest, 134 people were aboard, comprising 117 passengers and 17 crew members.

The ferry was approximately one nautical mile from Barangay Marcilla, east of its intended destination, when the fire broke out. Units from the Philippine Coast Guard responded to the emergency and quickly arrived at the scene. Meanwhile, video footage released by the Coast Guard showed flames engulfing the vessel, with sections of the hull glowing red as a result of the intense heat.

As of September 10, 42 people had reportedly been rescued, comprising 38 passengers and four crew members. Five people were confirmed dead and another 87 remained unaccounted for, bringing the total to the 134 people listed on the vessel’s manifest.

Search and rescue teams are continuing their efforts to find those still missing as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire.