Off the coast of the Philippines, a passenger ferry consumed by fire has claimed at least 35 lives, with dozens more still unaccounted for in waters that have swallowed too many vessels before. The M/V June Aster burned so swiftly on Wednesday evening that survivors had no time to reach their life jackets — a detail that speaks not only to the ferocity of the blaze but to the fragility of safety margins on which millions of islanders depend. As body bags arrived at Coron port and families gathered in desperate vigil, the disaster joined a long and sorrowful ledger of maritime tragedies in an a
Philippine ferry fire death toll reaches 35, more bodies expected
At least 35 confirmed dead with 54 unaccounted for; survivors had insufficient time to evacuate safely, and families await identification of remains.