87 missing after ferry fire off Philippines; 5 dead, 42 rescued

A ferry carrying 134 people caught fire in the waters off Palawan province on Wednesday while traveling south from Manila toward Coron, a tourist destination famed for its limestone cliffs and World War II diving sites. The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that five people have died, 42 have been rescued, and 87 remain missing. The vessel, the MV June Aster, was approximately 1.2 nautical miles northeast of Barangay Marcilla when flames broke out. Of those pulled from the water, 38 were passengers and four were crew members.

The search and rescue operation has been complicated by the conditions at sea. Strong currents have carried the burning vessel away from its initial distress location—it drifted from four nautical miles off Barangay Turda to 7.68 nautical miles away. Poor weather and heavy waves on the night of the fire have made the work of coast guard personnel more difficult. The Philippine Coast Guard has mobilized what it calls a "whole-of-government" approach to the rescue effort, enlisting volunteer fisherfolk communities to help comb the waters. A coast guard spokesperson emphasized that "time is truly of the essence" in situations like this, and the agency has appealed to families with missing relatives to report their names to ensure an accurate accounting of everyone aboard.

For those waiting for word of loved ones, the uncertainty is acute. Ann Magbanua is anxiously searching for her brother, Marlon, who was a passenger on the ferry. His wife has traveled to the hospital after hearing reports he might have been brought there. Rai Garcia has three family members unaccounted for: Mae Lorraine Galera-Navoa, her husband Elyzer Navoa, and their three-year-old daughter Hiraya Joy. The family had been returning home to El Nido in Palawan after attending a funeral in Luzon when the fire broke out. Garcia told reporters that loved ones have been posting on local news threads trying to gather any information available. "We still hope and pray for their safety," Garcia said.

Coron, the ferry's destination, is a major draw for both local and international tourists. The island is known for its turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and the numerous Japanese shipwrecks from World War II that lie on the seafloor, making it a premier diving location. The area had not experienced a deadly maritime disaster of this scale until now. In 2024, all 14 crew members of a cargo ship were rescued after it sank off Coron, and more than 300 people were affected when a cargo-passenger ship ran aground while preparing to depart from Coron Port—but all passengers disembarked safely in that incident.

Maritime accidents are not uncommon in the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,100 islands where inter-island ferries serve as a vital and affordable means of moving people and cargo. The country faces an average of 20 typhoons annually, and severe weather, monsoon rains, and rough seas pose constant risks. Past accidents have been attributed to poor maintenance and inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations. In 2023, a fire on the passenger ferry MV Lady Mary Joy 3 killed 31 people as it traveled from Zamboanga City to Basilan Island. With 87 people still missing, the current disaster could rank among the most severe maritime incidents the Philippines has experienced.

A municipal disaster staff member who responded to the scene described the work as "heartbreaking." The responder, who requested anonymity, noted that this was the first incident of this magnitude to occur in Coron. "I was one of the people who carried and transported the casualties to the hospital last night," the worker said. "They are one hour away from the main port." The coast guard has not yet been able to interview the survivors to gather details about what happened or how the fire started. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Coast Guard Captain Noemi Cayabyab cautioned that the figures being reported are "live data" and may change as search and rescue operations continue and more information becomes available.