Five dead, 87 missing after ferry fire off Philippines’ Palawan

MANILA, Sep 10: At least five people have died and 87 remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Palawan province in the western Philippines, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), cited by Xinhua News Agency.

The MV June Aster was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when the fire broke out on Wednesday, according to local media reports.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said 42 people had been rescued and that search-and-rescue operations were continuing.

The coast guard dispatched response teams after receiving a report of a fire aboard the vessel in waters about 1.2 nautical miles (2.2 kilometers) northeast of Barangay Marcilla in Coron, Palawan.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, while rescue teams continue searching the area for those still unaccounted for.

Palawan, known for its beaches and islands, is one of the Philippines’ major tourist destinations.