Five dead and 86 missing as ‘heartbreaking’ fire breaks out on Philippines ferry

At Least Five Dead, Eighty‑Six Missing Among 117 Passengers and 17 Crew After Ferry Fire on Philippine Route

At least five people have died and 86 are missing after a fire broke out on the MV June Aster bound for Coron, Palawan.

The MV June Aster, departing Manila with 117 passengers and 17 crew, was traveling toward the tourist hotspot of Coron when a blaze erupted, later causing the vessel to become engulfed in flames.

The fire ignited at 18:00 local time on Wednesday and remained active until 11:00 on Thursday. Strong ocean currents and unfavorable weather conditions hampered suppression efforts, according to the coastguard.

“This was really heartbreaking”, a first‑responder told the BBC, describing a disaster unlike anything the team had ever encountered in Coron.

“I was one of the people who carried and transported the casualties to the hospital last night,” the responder added, noting that the ship had already drifted from its initial distress location.

Emergency videoclips released by the coastguard show the ferry enveloped in flame and rescuers pulling victims onto evacuation boats.

The coastguard indicated, “strong currents in the area” caused the vessel to move several nautical miles away from its reported site, complicating the search and rescue zones.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation; officials have not yet spoken to all 43 individuals rescued so far.

Survivors have been relocated to an evacuation centre in Barangay Turda, north of Marcilla, where their condition—including injuries—remains uncertain.

Anelyn Magbanua remains anxious awaiting news of her family, including her husband Marlon, who traveled to Manila caring for their two school‑age children.

“He was staying in Manila meeting up with us for a few days before the tragedy struck,” Magbanua recalled, explaining how she learned of the fire from a cousin during the voyage.

“I’ve been crying and praying nonstop since last night,” she said, adding that she and her son left the hospital moments before this report.

“I’m holding nothing but hope right now, because my family is among the eighty‑plus still missing,” she confessed.

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