rki.news | Sources Reuters
MANILA: At least five people have died and 87 remain unaccounted for after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Palawan in the Philippines, authorities said Thursday.
The M/V June Aster was carrying 134 people, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members, when the blaze erupted near Coron while the vessel was travelling from Manila.
Philippine Coast Guard officials said 42 people had been rescued, including 38 passengers and four crew members. The search and rescue operation remained underway, with additional coast guard, military and civilian vessels deployed to locate those still missing.
The ferry continued to emit heavy smoke, while extreme heat and the risk of further explosions made it difficult for rescuers to board the vessel, according to officials.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.
Authorities said the reported figures could change as rescue operations continue and more information becomes available.
The incident has renewed concerns over maritime safety in the Philippines, where ferries are an important means of transportation across the country’s many islands.
Philippines Ferry Fire Leaves Five Dead, 87 Missing
