Tragedy Strikes Off Coron: Five Dead and 87 Missing After Philippine Ferry Catches Fire

At least five people have lost their lives and 87 others remain missing following a devastating fire aboard a passenger ferry off Coron in the western Philippines, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

The blaze erupted on the June Aster ferry at approximately 6:45pm local time on Wednesday while navigating waters off Coron, Palawan. The vessel had originally set sail from Baseco in Manila, journeying toward Coron.

According to the Coast Guard manifest, the ship carried a total of 134 people, comprising 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Coast Guard spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab reported that rescue teams successfully saved 42 individuals, which includes 38 passengers and four crew members.

While five fatalities have been officially confirmed, 87 individuals are still unaccounted for. Ms Cayabyab emphasized that these figures are dynamic and subject to change as ongoing search and rescue efforts persist.

Dramatic footage released by the Coast Guard captured the June Aster ferry completely engulfed in flames as emergency responders aided survivors and managed casualties. Multiple search and rescue units from the Coast Guard and various local agencies were immediately deployed to the incident site.

Authorities confirmed that the exact cause of the fire is still under active investigation. Rescue operations continued into Thursday as teams intensified efforts to find the missing individuals, while the Philippine Coast Guard urged families of those on board to come forward with information.