At least five people have died and more than 80 remain unaccounted for after the MV June Aster caught fire off Coron, Palawan.
MANILA: At least five people have died and more than 80 others remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off Palawan island in the western Philippines, authorities said Thursday.
The fire broke out aboard the MV June Aster on Wednesday night as the vessel was sailing in waters off Coron, Palawan. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said 43 people were rescued after the blaze erupted.
Footage released by the Coast Guard showed large flames engulfing parts of the ferry as rescue teams worked at the scene. Responders were also seen recovering bodies and placing them in body bags.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the vessel’s manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members.
Based on the number of people rescued and the confirmed fatalities, more than 80 people remained unaccounted for. Cayabyab cautioned, however, that the figures could change as rescue and recovery operations continued.
The ferry had departed from Baseco in Manila and was travelling toward Coron when the fire broke out, according to the Coast Guard.
Emergency teams continued searching the surrounding waters for survivors and missing passengers. Rescue and recovery efforts were ongoing as authorities worked to determine the full scale of the incident.
The cause of the fire had not been determined as of Thursday and remained under investigation.
Authorities are also expected to examine the vessel’s condition and the circumstances surrounding the outbreak as part of the investigation.
The incident has renewed concerns about passenger safety at sea, particularly as authorities assess how the fire started and whether safety procedures aboard the vessel were followed.
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