Passenger Ferry Fire in Philippines Leaves Dozens Missing

A fire broke out on a passenger ferry near the western Philippines, leaving many missing and at least five dead. As of now, 43 individuals have been rescued, according to Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab.

The incident occurred on the MV June Aster, which remained afloat but was tilting after the fire was subdued. The fire started on Wednesday evening. By midday Thursday, smoke persisted over the damaged ferry.

“We are continuing search-and-rescue operations,” stated Cayabyab. The efforts include a Coast Guard ship, high-speed response boats, a military vessel, other government boats, private volunteers, and fishermen.

The Coast Guard notified nearby ships to remain alert for passengers and coordinated with coastal villages for potential survivors drifting ashore. Television images showed Coast Guard personnel aiding survivors into small boats while the ferry burned in the background. Body bags were lined up at a port that appeared in the images.

The ferry departed from Manila and approached its destination in Coron, Palawan province, when the fire began around 6:45 p.m. Adverse weather conditions and large waves hampered rescue efforts. The ferry was about 4 nautical miles off Coron’s Turda village when it sent a distress signal. However, strong sea currents moved it to 7.68 nautical miles away from Turda.

Rescuers used drift-modeling tools to track areas where passengers might have drifted, as reported by Reuters. Cayabyab mentioned the cause of the fire remains unknown but might have originated in the cargo hold. The Coast Guard is investigating with the shipping company and maritime authorities to gather further details.

The ferry carried 134 people, with 117 passengers and 17 crew members. There is no information on any foreign nationals on board.

Ferries are a prevalent form of transportation in the Philippines, an archipelago with frequent sea accidents attributed to storms, inadequate maintenance, overcrowding, and inconsistent enforcement of safety rules, particularly in remote areas. In a tragic 1987 incident, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a tanker in central Philippines, resulting in over 4,300 deaths in what is the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster ever recorded.