Five Dead After Ferry Catches Fire Near Coron
Philippines ferry fire At least five people have died and 86 remain missing after a ferry caught fire near the Philippine tourist destination of Coron, the country’s coastguard said.
The MV June Aster was travelling from Manila with 117 passengers and 17 crew members when the fire broke out as the vessel approached Coron in Palawan.
The Philippines ferry fire began at about 18:45 local time on Wednesday and was still burning at 11:00 on Thursday, according to the coastguard.
Strong currents and heavy smoke have made efforts to control the blaze more difficult.
Survivors Rescued From the Sea
The coastguard said 43 people had been rescued, although it remained unclear how many of them were injured.
Seven survivors were transported to a hospital on the neighbouring island of Culion, which has greater capacity and more extensive healthcare services.
One survivor, Roland Lerma, told the BBC that he spent about two hours floating in the sea before rescuers reached him.
“It was cold. If the rescue had been delayed, I would definitely have died,” he said.
Video released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the ferry engulfed in flames while rescue boats pulled people from the water.
Survivors were later taken to an evacuation centre in Barangay Turda, north of Marcilla, although details about their injuries were not immediately available.
Fire May Have Started in Cargo Hold
The cause of the Philippines ferry fire remains under investigation.
However, preliminary interviews with survivors indicated that the blaze may have started in the vessel’s cargo hold, where goods and containers are stored.
The coastguard also said some passengers were not wearing life jackets when the emergency unfolded.
A first responder described the incident as one of the worst disasters they had witnessed in Coron.
“I was one of the people who carried and transported the casualties to the hospital last night,” the responder said, describing the situation as “really heartbreaking”.
The responder added that the ferry was about an hour from reaching its destination when the fire started.
Philippines ferry fire Families Wait for News of Missing Passengers
Families and friends of those still missing have been desperately seeking information as rescue efforts continue.
Rai Garcia said three family friends were among those unaccounted for. Mae Lorraine Galera-Navoa had travelled to Luzon for her father’s funeral with her husband, Elyzer Navoa, and their three-year-old daughter, Hiraya Joy.
The family was returning to El Nido in Palawan aboard the MV June Aster when the fire broke out.
“We haven’t received any news yet. That’s why we had to comment on local news threads just to receive updates,” Garcia said.
“We still hope and pray for their safety.”
Garcia’s family also created a poster using a photograph Mae had taken aboard the ferry in an effort to gather information about the missing family.
Other relatives have appealed for help through the Philippine Coast Guard’s social media pages as the search continues.
Ferry Accidents Remain a Major Risk Philippines ferry fire
Maritime accidents have been a recurring problem in the Philippines, an archipelago made up of thousands of islands.
Ferries provide an affordable means of transporting passengers and goods between islands, including communities that have limited access to air travel.
However, the country’s maritime routes can be affected by severe weather, monsoon rains and typhoons. The Philippines experiences around 20 typhoons each year.
Previous maritime disasters have also raised concerns about vessel maintenance and the enforcement of safety regulations.
In 2023, 31 people died after a fire broke out aboard the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 while it was travelling from Zamboanga City to Basilan.
With 86 people still missing, the latest Philippines ferry fire could become one of the country’s deadliest maritime disasters in recent years.
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