Fatal blaze on MV June Aster
At least five people have died and 86 are missing after a fire broke out aboard the MV June Aster near Coron, Palawan, Philippine coastguard officials said late Wednesday.
The ferry, carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew, was heading to the popular tourist destination when explosions erupted at 18:45 local time. Fires and strong currents hampered rescue crews, and the blaze had still been burning when they reached the vessel on Thursday morning.
A survivor recounted floating in the cold night water for two hours before rescue. "If the rescue had been delayed, I would definitely have died," Roland Lerma told the BBC.
Preliminary reports point to a fire starting in the cargo hold, while some passengers were not wearing life vests at the time. Forty‑three people have been rescued; seven of them were taken to a hospital on nearby Culion island.
The Coast Guard said it is still investigating the cause and that none of the alive appear to have sustained serious injuries. The tragedy has triggered a search for missing passengers, with many families posting appeals on social media.
This disaster could become one of the worst in Philippine maritime history, a country that still faces an average of 20 typhoons a year and frequent maritime accidents.
