Philippines Ferry Fire Leaves Five Dead, 86 Missing
At least five people have died and 86 are missing after a fire broke out on a ferry in the Philippines, the coastguard said. The MV June Aster, carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew, set out from Manila bound for Coron when it caught fire at 18:45 local time.
Video clips released by the coastguard show the vessel surrounded by intense flames and rescuers emerging from the water. The blaze was still raging as of 11:00 on Thursday, with strong currents and thick smoke hampering firefighting efforts.
Survivor Roland Lerma said he floated in the sea for two hours before rescue crews pulled him aboard, adding that a delay could have been fatal. He was recorded as a "heartbreaking" part of the tragedy by a first‑responder who had never seen such a disaster in Coron.
Preliminary interviews suggest the fire started in the cargo hold, where containers and goods were kept. Some passengers had no life vests, a factor that may have worsened the situation.
Forty‑three people were rescued, but the extent of injuries is unclear. Seven survivors were taken to a hospital in Culion, an island with more comprehensive medical facilities.
The ferry was only about an hour from its destination when the fire erupted, and recovered survivors were transported to an evacuation centre in Barangay Turda, north of Marcilla. Families of those missing are clamoring for updates on the coastguard’s Facebook page.
Maritime accidents are common in the Philippines, a 7,100‑island archipelago. Inter‑island ferries are a cheap way to move people and cargo, yet adverse weather—monsoon rains, typhoons, and strong currents—poses constant risk. The country averages about 20 typhoons a year, and past incidents have been blamed on poor maintenance and uneven enforcement of safety rules.
A similar tragedy in 2023 killed 31 people when a fire broke out on the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 near Basilan. The MV June Aster disaster, with 86 missing, could become one of the worst maritime accidents in recent Philippine history.
