A fire on a passenger ferry in the Philippines leaves at least 5 dead and dozens missing - AP News

A fire broke out on the passenger ferry MV June Aster on Wednesday evening while it was sailing off the coast of Coron in Palawan province, Philippines. The blaze was reported about 2.2 kilometres (1.3 miles) offshore, prompting a response from the Philippine Coast Guard.

The vessel had departed from Baseco in Manila and was en route to Coron. According to the Coast Guard, the ship’s manifest listed a total of 134 persons on board, comprising 117 passengers and 17 crew members.

Coast Guard officials confirmed that five people were confirmed dead and that bodies had been placed in body bags. Rescue teams reported that 42 individuals had been rescued and brought ashore. The number of people still unaccounted for exceeds 80, with one official indicating that 87 were missing, a figure that may be revised as the operation continues.

The Coast Guard, represented by Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, said that rescue and recovery efforts were ongoing in the waters off Coron. Authorities released footage showing flames engulfing parts of the ferry and rescuers working to retrieve victims. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

While all reports agree on the confirmed deaths and the scale of the rescue operation, they differ slightly on the exact number of missing persons, ranging from “over 80” to a specific count of 87, reflecting the evolving nature of the situation.