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Ferry Fire in Philippines Claims at Least 5 Lives, Dozens Missing
Confirmed
In Short: At least five people have died and more than 80 are missing after a fire broke out on the MV June Aster ferry near the tourist hotspot of Coron in Palawan, Philippines.
The MV June Aster ferry caught fire off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, according to reports from the Philippine Coast Guard. The fire broke out on Wednesday evening, 2.2 kilometers offshore, as the vessel was nearing its destination. Video footage shared by the coastguard showed the ferry engulfed in flames, with coast guard personnel tossing life jackets to survivors.
At least five casualties have been brought ashore, while more than 80 people remain missing. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and bad weather and strong sea currents have made rescue efforts challenging. The MV June Aster had 134 listed passengers and crew when it sank, and it had set off from Manila.
Captain Cayabyab of the coastguard stated that the ferry had drifted several nautical miles from its initial location due to sea currents. The vessel was expected to arrive at its destination at around 6:00 PM local time, but it was approximately an hour away from the port in Coron when the fire broke out. The coastguard is coordinating with the shipping company and maritime authorities to gather more information on the incident.
A first responder who transported the casualties to the hospital last night reported that the ferry was an hour away from its destination when the fire started. Magbanua, a local resident, last heard from the ferry while it was passing through a village about two hours from the port in Coron. The strong currents in the area have complicated rescue operations, and the coastguard is working to locate the missing individuals.
Background
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands, with a total area of about 300,000 square kilometers.
What's confirmed
- The fire aboard the MV June Aster broke out on Wednesday evening, local time, 2.2 kilometres offshore, the coastguard said, adding that five casualties had been brought ashore.
- At least five people are dead and scores missing after a ferry fire in the Philippine province of Palawan.
- The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
What's still developing
- A survivor is helped off a small boat after being rescued from a burning ferry off Palawan province, Philippines. ( AP: Philippine Coast Guard ) "Just to make it clear, this is live data and may change as our search and rescue operations are ongoing," Captain Cayabyab said.
- "I was expecting that the ferry will arrive at the pier at between 18:00 and 19:00 yesterday," she said, adding that she had gone to bed early but was awakened by a cousin who told her the ferry Marlon was on had caught fire.