Fire on Philippine ferry claims five lives, 87 still missing near Palawan

A fire aboard the MV June Aster has claimed five lives while 87 people remain unaccounted for following a blaze that broke out near the Philippine province of Palawan, the coastguard announced.

The fire erupted on the ferry about 2.2 kilometres offshore, with all five casualties brought ashore after the incident. Footage released by the coastguard on social media captured the vessel completely consumed by flames.

Search operations continue

Coastguard Captain Noemi Cayabyab disclosed that 42 people have been rescued so far, comprising 38 passengers and four crew members. The ship's manifest had listed 134 passengers and crew in total.

"Based on the data we have right now on rescued [42] and the casualties, we still have 87 people who are unaccounted for," Cayabyab told a local radio station, cautioning that the figures could change. "Just to make it clear, this is live data and may change as our search and rescue operations are ongoing," she said.

The MV June Aster had departed from Manila and was travelling near a tourist hotspot in Palawan province when the blaze started. The fire broke out in the evening.

The incident marks one of the more significant maritime emergencies in recent times for the Philippines, an archipelago nation heavily reliant on ferry transport between its islands.

Source: South China Morning Post