A fire that broke out on a passenger ferry off the western Philippines has resulted in at least five confirmed deaths and left dozens of people missing as of Thursday. The Philippine Coast Guard reported that 43 individuals have been rescued so far.
The incident occurred on the MV June Aster, which was en route from the capital Manila to Coron in Palawan province. The fire began around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, approximately four nautical miles off the village of Turda. Strong sea currents later pushed the vessel further offshore to 7.68 nautical miles.
Coast guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab stated that the ferry remained afloat but was listing after the fire was extinguished. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with a coast guard ship, response boats, a military vessel, and other government and private craft involved. The coast guard issued a radio broadcast to nearby ships to watch for survivors and coordinated with coastal villages in case any drifted ashore.
Images from the nighttime rescue efforts depicted coast guard personnel throwing life jackets to survivors while the burning ferry was visible in the background. Rescued individuals were guided into smaller boats, and body bags were observed at a port.
Bad weather and rough seas presented challenges for the rescue teams. The cause of the fire remains unclear, though one survivor suggested it may have originated in the cargo hold. The coast guard is collaborating with the shipping company and maritime authorities for further details.
According to Cayabyab, there were 134 people on board: 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Information regarding any foreign nationals among those on board was not immediately available.
Ferries are a primary mode of transportation throughout the Philippine archipelago. However, maritime accidents are not uncommon, often attributed to severe weather, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations, particularly in remote areas. Historically, the Philippines experienced its deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in 1987 when the ferry Dona Paz sank after a collision, resulting in over 4,300 fatalities.