Fire Engulfs Philippine Ferry Off Palawan, Killing 5 with 87 Missing
SCMP · 4 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago1 MIN
Summary
At least five people were killed and 87 remained unaccounted for after a fire swept through the MV June Aster ferry near Coron Municipality in Palawan Province, Philippines, on Wednesday evening. The coast guard confirmed 42 people had been rescued as of Thursday morning, while search and rescue operations were still underway to locate the missing passengers and crew.
Key Points
- The MV June Aster caught fire about 1.2 nautical miles (approximately 2.2 km) off the coast of Coron Municipality in Palawan Province
- The vessel was carrying 134 people total: 117 passengers and 17 crew members
- Forty-two people were rescued, comprising 38 passengers and 4 crew members
- Coast guard video footage showed the ferry completely engulfed in flames
- The ship had departed from Manila and was bound for Coron when the fire erupted
Why It Matters
The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns for passenger vessels operating in the Philippines' busy maritime routes connecting Manila to popular tourist destinations. Coron is a major tourist destination popular with both domestic and international visitors, making the route particularly busy. The high number of missing passengers — more than double those rescued — suggests the death toll could rise significantly as rescue teams continue their operations in challenging sea conditions.
The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns for passenger vessels operating in the Philippines' busy maritime routes connecting Manila to popular tourist destinations. Coron is a major tourist destination popular with both domestic and international visitors, making the route particularly busy. The high number of missing passengers — more than double those rescued — suggests the death toll could rise significantly as rescue teams continue their operations in challenging sea conditions.