Philippines Ferry Fire: 5 Dead and 86 Missing
The MV June Aster ferry caught fire near Coron, Palawan, leaving 5 dead and 86 missing amid strong currents and poor weather conditions.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- MV June Aster ferry carrying 134 people caught fire in the Philippines
- At least five people confirmed dead and 86 remain missing
- Strong currents and bad weather hampered rescue and firefighting efforts
- The exact cause of the disaster is currently under active investigation
A maritime disaster has struck the Philippines after the passenger ferry MV June Aster caught fire while approaching its destination at the tourist hotspot of Coron in Palawan province. The country's coastguard reported that at least five people have died, while 86 others remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.
The vessel had set off from the capital Manila carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members. The blaze erupted at 18:00 local time on Wednesday and was still burning by 11:00 on Thursday. Strong ocean currents and poor weather conditions severely challenged emergency personnel working to extinguish the flames and locate survivors.
A first responder told the BBC they had never witnessed a disaster of this scale in Coron, describing the situation as truly heartbreaking. Video footage shared by the coastguard showed the vessel engulfed in towering flames alongside rescue boats pulling survivors from the water.
"I was one of the people who carried and transported the casualties to the hospital last night."
First responder
A coastguard spokesman noted that strong currents caused the burning ferry to drift from its initial distress location four nautical miles off Barangay Turda to 7.68 nautical miles away, complicating search efforts across the open waters.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Maritime accidents remain a recurring safety challenge in the Philippines, an archipelago comprising 7,100 islands where inter-island ferries serve as vital and affordable transportation. However, vulnerabilities to severe weather, approximately 20 annual typhoons, and historical issues regarding vessel maintenance and safety enforcement have frequently resulted in tragedies, echoing the 2023 ferry fire that claimed 31 lives in the country's south.
Meanwhile, 43 survivors have been relocated to an evacuation center in Barangay Turda. Anxious relatives, including Anelyn Magbanua, continue to search hospitals for missing loved ones, awaiting news of family members who remain unaccounted for following the disaster.
Rai Garcia, whose relative Mae Lorraine Galera-Navoa, her husband Elyzer Navoa, and their three-year-old daughter Hiraya Joy are among the missing after attending a funeral in Luzon, stated that their family continues to appeal for information and pray for their safe return.
Source: BBC World
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