Five people were confirmed dead in early counting and more than 80 were missing after a ferry caught fire off Palawan island in the western Philippines on Wednesday night, the Philippine coast guard said. Forty-three people were rescued from the MV June Aster in waters off Coron, Palawan, the coast guard said. Footage showed flames engulfing parts of the vessel and responders placing victims in body bags.
Coast guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab told DZXL radio the vessel’s manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Based on the reported number of survivors and fatalities, more than 80 people were unaccounted for, and Cayabyab said the figures might change as the rescue operation continued. The ferry had departed from Baseco in Manila and was bound for Coron, she said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
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