Off the shores of Palawan — one of the Philippines' most beloved island destinations — a passenger ferry became a vessel of tragedy on Wednesday evening, when fire consumed the M/V June Aster and sent it beneath the sea. At least five lives have been lost and 87 souls remain unaccounted for among the 134 aboard, while 42 survivors were pulled from the water by rescue teams working through the night. The disaster arrives not as an isolated shock but as a recurring wound in a nation where the sea is both lifeline and hazard — where the distance between islands is measured not only in kilometers,
Ferry fire off Philippines kills 5, leaves 87 missing near Palawan
At least 5 people killed and 87 missing after ferry fire; 42 rescued from 134 aboard.