Asia · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
Philippines Coast Guard Searches After M/V June Aster Ferry Fire Kills 5, Leaves 87 Missing Near Coron
Five killed, 87 missing after M/V June Aster ferry fire off Coron, Palawan. Fire unfolded Wednesday night about 2.2 km offshore; search and rescue ongoing.
21 outlets, one story, no spin found.
21outlets compared
Fire off Palawan
A fire broke out on board the M/V June Aster on Wednesday evening near Coron in the Philippine province of Palawan, with the coast guard saying at least five people were killed and 87 remained missing.
“At least five people have been killed, and 87 remain missing”
Reuters reported that the Philippines deployed coast guard, military and civilian vessels in a race to find survivors on a smouldering passenger-and-cargo ferry off the western island of Palawan, after the blaze left more than 80 missing.
Coastguard Captain Noemi Cayabyab told a local radio station that “we still have 87 people who are unaccounted for,” as search and rescue operations continued.
The coast guard said the vessel was on a voyage from Baseco in Manila to Coron, and Reuters said drone footage showed the blackened ferry surrounded by clear blue-green waters while it still generated smoke hours after the fire broke out.
Rescues and live data
The coast guard said 42 people had been rescued so far, while Cayabyab told a local radio station that the figures were “live data and may change, as our search and rescue operations are ongoing.”
France 24 reported that the blaze broke out on the M/V June Aster Wednesday evening about 2.2 kilometres (1.3 miles) offshore, and that video shared by the coast guard on Facebook showed the vessel completely engulfed in flames.
Reuters said so far 43 people, including two Chilean nationals, have been rescued from the ferry, and it added that extreme heat and the risk of explosions prevented rescuers from boarding.
Reuters also reported that at least one survivor heard “a loud explosion from the cargo hold before the blaze spread rapidly through the ferry,” while authorities had yet to determine what caused it.
Investigation and capacity
Reuters said the Coast Guard will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the fire, and Cayabyab told a press conference that it was too early to draw conclusions about possible sabotage or a terrorist attack.
“The Coast Guard will conduct a comprehensive investigation”
The Reuters report added that, according to the vessel's manifest, the ferry was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members and had a maximum capacity of 330 people.
Reuters also said Cayabyab stated the vessel had passed safety inspections and that it was carrying five motorcycles, an electric vehicle, a forklift, a pickup truck and mostly cargo goods.
In a separate account, heraldo.es said the coast guard reported five deaths and 86 disappeared, and it quoted Cayabyab saying authorities were still reviewing identities of people on board and had not confirmed whether there were foreigners on the ferry.