Philippines passenger ferry catches fire off Palawan, leaving five dead and 87 unaccounted for
Five people have been confirmed dead after a passenger ferry caught fire off Coron, Palawan, Philippines, on Wednesday night (9 September). The Philippine Coast Guard said 42 people had been rescued, while 87 remained unaccounted for as search and rescue operations continued.
PHILIPPINES: Five people have been confirmed dead after the passenger vessel MV June Aster caught fire in waters off Coron, Palawan, Philippines, on Wednesday night (9 September), according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The vessel, operated by Atienza Interisland Shipping Line, was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when it departed from the Port of Manila for Coron in Palawan province.
The fire was reported at around 6.45pm, when the vessel was about 1.2 nautical miles northeast of Barangay Marcilla in Coron.
42 rescued as search continues
PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemi Cayabyab said 42 people had been rescued as of 11.10pm, including 38 passengers and four crew members.
The five casualties were also brought to the Barangay Turda Covered Court, where they were to be turned over to the Coron Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for further arrangements.
Cayabyab said 87 people remained unaccounted for based on the latest figures, while cautioning that the number could change as search and rescue operations continued.
The Coast Guard Sub-Stations in Turda and Tara, the Bureau of Fire Protection in Coron, the municipal disaster management office, local authorities and nearby vessels responded to the incident.
Local fishermen also assisted in the initial rescue efforts after receiving reports of the burning vessel.
The PCG deployed personnel from its Maritime Environmental Protection Unit in Northeastern Palawan and Coast Guard Special Operations Group to assist with the operation.
The BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406), a Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel, also departed the Port of San Fernando in El Nido and proceeded to the incident area to provide additional assistance.
Cause of fire remains unknown
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Coast Guard District Palawan and other responding units are conducting systematic search and rescue operations in the waters around Coron for those still missing.
The PCG is also preparing oil spill response equipment in case the incident results in an oil spill.
