Ferry fire off Palawan leaves at least five dead and 87 unaccounted for
Search and rescue operations continued after the M/V June Aster caught fire 2.2 kilometres offshore, with 42 passengers and crew rescued.
At least five people have died and 87 remain unaccounted for after a ferry caught fire off Palawan in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The M/V June Aster caught fire on Wednesday evening about 2.2 kilometres offshore. Coast guard footage showed the vessel engulfed in flames as teams continued efforts to contain the blaze and search for survivors.
Forty-two people were rescued, including 38 passengers and four crew, the coast guard said. Five casualties had been brought ashore.
Captain Noemi Cayabyab said the vessel’s manifest listed 134 passengers and crew. She cautioned that the figures were live and could change as search and rescue operations continued, while officials had not yet obtained information from those rescued.
Tracking data cited by France 24 indicated the ferry had departed from Manila. The cause of the fire had not been established.
