A passenger ferry caught fire in the western waters of the Philippines, leading to the disappearance of numerous individuals, as reported by the coast guard on Thursday. The incident resulted in the loss of at least five lives. Presently, 42 individuals have been rescued, with ongoing efforts being made to locate the remaining 87 missing persons, according to Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, a spokesperson for the coast guard, during a radio interview.
The ferry, known as MV June Aster, departed from Manila and was in proximity to Coron in Palawan province when the fire broke out on Wednesday. Visuals from the scene depicted the ferry engulfed in flames, with coast guard personnel distributing life jackets to survivors amidst the blazing vessel. Passengers were assisted onto smaller boats to transport them to shallower waters, while body bags were arranged in what appeared to be a port area.
Rescuers faced challenges due to adverse weather conditions and rough seas, with the ferry drifting several nautical miles away from its initial position due to strong sea currents, as mentioned by Cayabyab.
The ferry accommodated a total of 134 individuals, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Cayabyab stated on DZXL radio that the search for the 87 missing people was ongoing, based on the current information regarding the rescued and deceased individuals. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the coast guard is collaborating with the shipping company and maritime authorities to gather further information.
Ferries serve as a common mode of transportation within the Philippine archipelago, where sea accidents occur frequently due to inclement weather, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and limited enforcement of safety protocols, particularly in remote regions. Notably, in 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank following a collision with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines, resulting in the loss of over 4,300 lives in one of the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime disasters.
