Rescuers faced challenges on Thursday in accessing a passenger ferry that had ignited and burned through the night in the western Philippines, resulting in the loss of five lives and leaving 86 individuals unaccounted for, as confirmed by officials. Search and rescue operations were paused by nightfall but were set to recommence the following morning.
Coast guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab disclosed that 43 individuals had been successfully rescued thus far. The ferry, known as MV June Aster, remained afloat but tilted near Coron after the fire erupted on Wednesday evening. Smoke continued to emanate from the charred vessel by midday on Thursday.
Cayabyab mentioned that authorities were in the process of verifying reports indicating the presence of two foreigners on board by cross-referencing the names on the manifest and collaborating with local government bodies and the shipping company to ascertain the identities of the deceased, survivors, and missing persons.
The ferry’s manifest indicated that 134 individuals were on board, comprising 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Despite having a capacity for 306 passengers and 27 crew members, the vessel was en route from Manila and was close to its destination in Coron, Palawan province, when the fire was reported around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
Efforts to access the ship were impeded by dense smoke, with Cayabyab stating, “Our primary goal now is to enter the ship to evaluate the situation.” Subsequently, search and rescue activities were suspended on Thursday evening and were scheduled to resume the next day.
The cause of the fire remained unclear, although one survivor speculated that it may have originated in the cargo hold. The coast guard was collaborating with the shipping company and maritime authorities to gather additional information.
Rescue teams contended with adverse weather conditions, with a coast guard vessel, rapid response boats, a military ship, government vessels, volunteers, and fishermen participating in the search and rescue efforts. The coast guard issued radio alerts to nearby vessels to be vigilant for ferry passengers and liaised with coastal communities in case any individuals drifted ashore.
Incident images from the previous night showcased coast guard personnel distributing life jackets to survivors amidst the burning ferry. Passengers were escorted onto smaller boats, which transported them to shallow waters, while body bags were organized at a makeshift port.
Rescuers faced challenges posed by inclement weather and rough seas. The distressed ferry was approximately 7.4 kilometers off Turda village when it signaled for help, but strong sea currents shifted it to a location 14.2 kilometers away from Turda.
Coron, renowned for its pristine waters, limestone cliffs, and rock formations, is a sought-after tourist destination. Ferries are a common mode of transportation in the Philippine archipelago, where sea mishaps occur frequently due to storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and lax enforcement of safety regulations, particularly in remote regions.
In a tragic maritime incident in 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines, resulting in over 4,300 fatalities, marking it as the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster globally.
