Philippines ferry fire off Palawan leaves five dead and 80 missing

In short

The passenger ferry M/V June Aster caught fire off the western Philippine island of Palawan on Wednesday night, killing five people.
The Philippine coast guard estimates more than 80 people are unaccounted for, based on a manifest listing 117 passengers and 17 crew members and the 43 survivors reported so far.
The ferry had departed from Baseco in Manila and was bound for Coron, a tourist destination in Palawan.
Coast guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said rescuers could not yet board the vessel because of thick smoke, extreme heat and the risk of explosions.
Two Chilean nationals were among the 43 people rescued, according to Aileen Ausente, a spokesperson for the coast guard in Palawan.

A search and rescue operation is under way off the western Philippine island of Palawan after the passenger ferry M/V June Aster caught fire on Wednesday night, killing five people and leaving more than 80 unaccounted for, the Philippine coast guard said.

What happened to the M/V June Aster?

The ferry had departed from Baseco in Manila and was bound for Coron, a tourist destination in Palawan known for diving sites, beaches and island-hopping, when the fire broke out on Wednesday night. Its manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members, according to coast guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab. Multiple coast guard vessels and other assets are searching for survivors, and rescue teams are using drift-modelling tools to identify areas where people may have been carried by currents.

How many people are missing?

Authorities estimate that more than 80 people remain unaccounted for, based on the vessel’s manifest and the 43 survivors and five fatalities reported so far. The coast guard says the figures could still change as the search continues. Among the 43 people rescued were two Chilean nationals, according to Aileen Ausente, a spokesperson for the coast guard in Palawan.

Why can rescuers not board the ferry?

Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said rescue teams could not yet enter the M/V June Aster because of thick smoke still billowing from the vessel, along with extreme heat and the risk of explosions. Drone footage released by the coast guard showed the blackened ferry surrounded by clear blue-green water, still generating smoke hours after the fire started. The burned vessel drifted farther from its original location overnight, carried by currents and winds, adding to the difficulties facing rescuers, Cayabyab said. Air assets are on standby to help, weather permitting.

Is ferry travel in the Philippines dangerous?

Ferry travel is a common mode of transport in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands where millions of people rely on boats to travel between provinces. The country has a patchy maritime safety record, and many previous ferry disasters have been linked to overcrowding, rough weather and lax enforcement of safety regulations. Other recent incidents with heavy death tolls include a school fire in Bukavu, DR Congo, in which at least 24 children died in a stampede, and a coach crash in the Swiss Alps that killed several Dutch tourists.

What caused the fire?

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Frequently asked questions

How many people are missing after the Philippines ferry fire?

The Philippine coast guard estimates more than 80 people are unaccounted for, based on the vessel’s manifest of 117 passengers and 17 crew, the 43 survivors and the five deaths reported so far. The coast guard says the figures could still change.

Where did the M/V June Aster catch fire?

The ferry caught fire on Wednesday night off the western Philippine island of Palawan, while travelling from Baseco in Manila to Coron.

How many people were rescued from the ferry?

Forty-three people had been rescued as of Thursday, including two Chilean nationals, according to the coast guard in Palawan.

What caused the ferry fire?