CORON, Palawan | At least five people have died and more than 80 remain unaccounted for after the passenger ferry M/V June Aster caught fire off Coron, Palawan, while sailing from Manila on Wednesday evening, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation involving the Philippine Coast Guard, military, local fishermen and other civilian responders.
The Philippine Coast Guard said the vessel’s manifest listed 134 people, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Forty-three people had been rescued, according to the latest reports, while the Coast Guard cautioned that the numbers remain provisional as authorities continue to account for passengers and crew.
The 53-meter ferry was nearing Coron when the fire was reported at about 6:45 p.m. on September 9. It was approximately 2.2 kilometers offshore when the blaze broke out. Thick smoke, intense heat and the risk of further explosions prevented rescuers from immediately boarding the vessel, which remained afloat but was listing.
A survivor told authorities that a loud explosion appeared to come from the cargo hold before the fire spread rapidly. The vessel was carrying several vehicles and general cargo, including motorcycles and an electric vehicle. The Coast Guard has not determined what caused the explosion and fire, and a formal investigation is underway.
Rescue operations were complicated by rough weather and strong sea currents, which caused the burning vessel to drift farther from its original position. Coast Guard vessels, military assets, civilian boats and local fishermen joined the operation, while authorities also alerted nearby coastal communities to watch for passengers who may have entered the water.
The Coast Guard said the June Aster had passed safety inspections. Authorities are investigating the vessel’s condition, cargo, emergency procedures and the circumstances surrounding the fire. The ferry’s operator, Atienza Inter-Island Ferries, said it was cooperating with the investigation and had mobilized resources to assist in the response.
The disaster has renewed concerns about maritime safety in the Philippines, where ferries remain an essential means of transportation across the country’s more than 7,600 islands. The country has experienced several major maritime disasters, including the December 1987 sinking of the passenger ferry Doña Paz after a collision with the tanker Vector. More than 4,300 people were killed, making it the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime disaster.
For Palawan, the incident comes in waters serving one of the country’s major tourism destinations. Coron is internationally known for its limestone islands, diving sites, shipwrecks and island-hopping tourism, making reliable sea transport particularly important to residents, workers and visitors.
As search teams continue looking for those still missing, authorities are working to reconcile the passenger manifest with the rescued, deceased and unaccounted-for. Officials have urged families with relatives aboard the ferry to coordinate with authorities as the search and identification process continues.
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
