Off the waters of Coron, Palawan, a ferry fire has claimed 76 lives and left 13 souls unaccounted for, setting in motion one of the Philippine Coast Guard's most expansive maritime search operations in recent memory. As ocean currents carry the unknown toward distant shores, authorities have stretched their reach to the coastal communities of Mindoro, enlisting fishermen and barangay officials in the quiet, patient work of watching the sea. It is a reminder that disaster does not end with the flames — it continues in the waiting, the searching, and the slow, painful counting of the lost.
Coast Guard expands Mindoro search as ferry death toll reaches 76
76 people confirmed dead, 13 missing, and 43 survivors rescued from the MV June Aster ferry fire off Coron, Palawan.