At least five people have died and 84 remain missing after a fire tore through the passenger ferry MV June Aster off the Philippine island of Palawan, with rescuers still unable to fully enter the smoke-filled vessel.
The ferry was drifting near Coron on Friday, two days after the blaze broke out as it approached its destination. Coast guard teams were assessing whether conditions had become safe enough to board the heavily damaged ship, which was still listing and emitting smoke.
Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, a spokeswoman for the Philippine Coast Guard, said the safety of rescuers remained a priority as they prepared to inspect the vessel.
Search teams using coast guard and military boats were joined by government agencies, private volunteers and local fishermen. Coastal patrols were also checking whether anyone had been carried towards shore by currents.
The MV June Aster had been travelling from Manila to Coron when the fire was reported on Wednesday evening. It had left Batangas at about 8.13pm on Tuesday and was due to arrive in Coron at 6pm the following day, according to the coast guard.
There were 134 people listed on the manifest, including 117 passengers and 17 crew. Forty-three people have been rescued and five bodies recovered, while two passengers listed on the manifest later told authorities they had not boarded the ship, leaving 84 people unaccounted for.
Survivor Arnulfo Nokki Villanueva said the fire spread rapidly, leaving passengers struggling to escape in the dark.
“The fire quickly spread. That’s when I dropped to the ground and my back was burned,” he said in a video broadcast by News5. He said he tried to obtain a life jacket but was unable to do so as people rushed towards the exits, eventually escaping through a window.
The coast guard said one survivor had reported hearing a loud explosion near the cargo hold shortly before smoke and flames spread through the ship. Officials stressed that the cause had not been established and that a full investigation was under way.
Investigation into ferry fire
Authorities are also examining whether the crew or the shipping company could face liability over the response to the blaze. The vessel’s operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries, said it was co-operating with maritime officials and assisting survivors and their families.
The coast guard said the ferry had passed a vessel safety inspection on March 10, 2026, and was certified to carry up to 333 passengers and crew. Some of those rescued were not wearing life jackets, which officials said may have been because passengers jumped overboard after the fire began.
Two Chilean tourists were among the survivors and were being treated for injuries in hospital in Coron. No other foreign nationals were known to have been on board.
Coron, known for its clear waters and limestone formations, is a popular tourist destination. Ferries are widely used across the Philippine archipelago, where maritime accidents have been linked to severe weather, overcrowding, poor maintenance and inconsistent enforcement of safety rules.
