Five dead, over 80 missing after ferry fire off Palawan, Philippines
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At least five people died and more than 80 remain missing after a fire broke out on the ferry MV June Aster off Palawan province in the Philippines. The Philippine Coast Guard said 42 people have been rescued so far. Search and rescue operations continue amid strong currents and poor weather.
Key Facts
- The fire broke out on the MV June Aster about 2.2 km northeast of Coron, Palawan, at around 18:00 local time on Wednesday.
- The ship's manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
- 42 people have been rescued, including 38 passengers and 4 crew members.
- The number of missing is reported as 86 by BBC and 87 by Qazaqstan TV and Al Jazeera, based on coast guard statements.
- Strong currents and poor weather have hampered firefighting and search operations, and the vessel drifted from its initial distress location.
The Fire
The fire erupted on the MV June Aster as it was nearing Coron, a tourist destination in Palawan province, on Wednesday evening. The vessel was about 2.2 km (1.3 miles) offshore when the blaze started, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. Video shared by the coastguard showed the ferry engulfed in flames and people being pulled from the water into rescue boats. The fire was still burning as of 11:00 local time on Thursday, more than 17 hours after it began.
Casualties and Rescue
At least five people have been confirmed dead, and the coast guard reported that five casualties had been brought ashore. Coast Guard Captain Noemi Cayabyab told local radio that 42 people had been rescued so far, including 38 passengers and 4 crew members. The number of missing is reported as 86 by BBC and 87 by Qazaqstan TV and Al Jazeera, based on coast guard statements. Cayabyab said the data is live and may change as search and rescue operations continue.
Search Conditions
Strong currents and poor weather have challenged efforts to extinguish the fire and search for the missing, according to the coast guard. The ferry drifted from its initial distress location four nautical miles off Barangay Turda to a point 7.68 nautical miles away. A first responder in Coron told the BBC they had never seen such a disaster in the area, calling it "really heartbreaking". The coast guard said there was no information indicating foreigners were on board.
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