Philippine Rescuers Board Ferry Following Forty-Hour Blaze

Firefighting operations are set to resume, beginning with the cargo hold—a compartment designated for storing containers and goods—according to Cayabyab.

Preliminary interviews with survivors indicate the fire originated in that area, according to the coastguard. Investigators also noted that some passengers were not wearing life vests.

A survivor pulled to safety by a rescue boat described the frantic cries echoing aboard the passenger-cargo vessel when the fire broke out on Wednesday evening.

Roland Lerma recounted falling as he desperately tried to escape the burning vessel.

“People were trampling over me while I was on the floor,” the 30-year-old recounted to the BBC.

He crawled until he could regain his balance, then leaped into the sea. Lerma noted that he also saw children who had jumped into the water, but he could not discern their faces in the darkness.

“The sea was freezing cold. If the rescue had been delayed, I would have certainly perished,” he stated.

The vessel, which departed from Manila, was approaching its destination of Coron—a popular tourist destination in Palawan province—when the fire ignited.

The Philippine maritime authority is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Built in 2002, the ferry held valid safety certificates and passed an enforcement inspection in March. However, investigators are examining potential manifest discrepancies, cargo loading integrity, and crew emergency response protocols, as reported by the Palawan Daily.

The vessel’s operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries, has pledged full cooperation with the investigation.

“Our deepest sympathies remain with the affected families, and we will not rest until all individuals are accounted for,” the company stated on Thursday.

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