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Five people have been confirmed killed and around 87 are still unaccounted for in a passenger ferry fire off Coron, Palawan, in the Philippines. Continuous search and rescue efforts are underway. The cause of the fire is yet unknown.
Ferry JUNE ASTER, image credit: Carmelo Barrameda
The fire reportedly broke out at around 6:45 pm local time on 9 September. The ferry June Aster had departed from Manila and was headed for Coron, Busuanga Island. According to the vessel's manifest, there were 117 passengers and 17 crew members aboard.
The fire broke out when the vessel was around a nautical mile away from Barangay Marcilla, east of its destination.
Philippine Coast Guard units responded and arrived promptly on the scene. Video footage from the Philippine Coast Guard shows the fire having engulfed the vessel, with parts of the hull glowing red from the heat.
As of 10 September, 42 people (reported as 38 passengers and 4 crew members) have been rescued. 87 other people from the vessel are still missing, and search operations continue.
