CORON, Palawan | The death toll from the fire that engulfed the passenger ferry MV June Aster off Coron, Palawan, has risen to 35 after rescuers recovered 30 bodies from inside the burned-out vessel, authorities said Friday.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the bodies were found after firefighters and specialized responders were finally able to enter the vessel, where thick smoke and extreme heat had previously prevented a full search. Coast Guard footage showed responders in protective suits carrying body bags from the ferry to a Coast Guard vessel.
At least 43 people have been rescued, while 54 remain unaccounted for, according to the latest figures reported by the Philippine Coast Guard. The numbers have changed as authorities have verified the passenger manifest. Two people previously listed as passengers said they had not boarded the vessel.
The bodies recovered Friday were found inside the ferry’s accommodation area. The Coast Guard said recovery and identification procedures were being carried out with forensic personnel, while authorities continued searching the heavily damaged vessel for additional victims.
The MV June Aster, operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members according to its manifest when the fire broke out at about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, September 9, as the vessel neared Coron after a more than 20-hour voyage. The ship had departed Manila and was scheduled to arrive in Coron that evening.
Survivors reported hearing explosions before the fire spread rapidly through the vessel. The Maritime Industry Authority, citing survivor accounts, said two successive explosions were heard from inside the ship. The cause of the fire, however, remains under investigation, and authorities have not established whether it began in the cargo area or what triggered the reported explosions.
The ferry was carrying several vehicles and other cargo, including five motorcycles, an electric vehicle, a forklift and a pickup truck. The PCG said the vessel had undergone a pre-departure inspection and a Vessel Safety Enforcement Inspection in March 2026, during which it was found compliant. Authorities are nevertheless examining the actions of the crew, emergency procedures and other circumstances surrounding the disaster, including whether the company could face liability.
The tragedy has renewed attention on the Philippines’ long history of deadly maritime disasters. In 1987, the passenger ferry MV Doña Paz collided with the tanker MT Vector, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths and becoming one of the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime disasters. More recently, the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 caught fire off Basilan in March 2023, killing at least 31 people, while the sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 near Basilan in January 2026 also claimed lives.
Ferries remain essential to the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands where millions depend on maritime transport to move between provinces and islands. The recurring accidents have kept maritime safety, vessel maintenance, passenger accounting and enforcement of safety regulations under scrutiny.
For families gathered in Coron and elsewhere awaiting news of missing relatives, Friday’s recovery of the bodies inside the burned ferry brought the search into a more painful phase. Authorities said recovery, identification and investigation efforts would continue as they work to account for everyone who was aboard the MV June Aster.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
