At least five people have died and 86 are missing following a fire that erupted on a Philippines ferry, according to the country's coast guard.
The MV June Aster departed from Manila carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members. The fire broke out around 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday as the vessel approached its destination in Coron, a popular tourist spot in Palawan province.
The fire was still burning as of 11 a.m. on Thursday. Rescuers faced challenges including strong currents and adverse weather conditions, the coast guard reported. The ferry had drifted significantly from its initial distress location to a point 7.68 nautical miles away.
First responders described the scene as "heartbreaking," with one individual telling the BBC they had never witnessed such a disaster in Coron. Video footage shared by the coast guard depicted the ferry engulfed in flames, with people being pulled from the water into rescue boats.
Forty-three people have been rescued and taken to an evacuation center in Barangay Turda. The extent of their injuries is currently unknown. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire, and the coast guard has not yet been able to interview any survivors.
Anelyn Magbanua is among those anxiously awaiting news about loved ones. Her husband, Marlon, was on the ferry returning from a visit to their children in Manila. Magbanua last spoke with him when the ferry was about two hours from its destination. She expressed her distress, stating, "I couldn't describe what I am feeling right now. I have been crying and praying since last night."
She has been checking hospitals in Coron in hopes of finding her husband among the survivors, but he remains unaccounted for. "My two-year-old son and I are outside the hospital as we speak. We have nothing but ourselves," she said.
