Five people have died and 87 others remain missing after a fire broke out aboard a passenger ferry near the Philippine tourist destination of Coron. The vessel, MV June Aster, was carrying 134 people — 117 passengers and 17 crew — en route to Coron when it caught fire.
Rescue and casualty figures
Coast guard Captain Noemi Cayabyab confirmed the five deaths as search and rescue operations continue. She told a local radio station: "Based on the data we have right now on rescued (42) and the casualties, we still have 87 people who are unaccounted for."
"Just to make it clear, this is live data and may change as our search and rescue operations are ongoing," she added. Cayabyab verified that 38 passengers and four crew members had been rescued.
Fire location and weather challenges
The fire broke out around 6.45pm while the ferry was 1.2 nautical miles off Barangay Marcilla, travelling from the capital, Manila. Coast guard crews are working to extinguish the blaze and search nearby waters.
However, difficult weather has hampered their efforts. A spokesperson explained: "The weather [last night] was poor, and the waves in the area were strong." Reports from the stricken vessel indicate strong currents, and the craft had drifted from its initial distress location — four nautical miles off Barangay Turda — to a point 7.68 nautical miles away.
"It has been carried further out by the current. These are the challenges our personnel are facing in the search area," the spokesperson added.
