87 unaccounted for as ferry fire strikes off Coron

Eighty-seven people remained missing on Thursday after a fire engulfed the M/V June Aster off Coron, Palawan, as rescuers searched surrounding waters for lost passengers and crew. 

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab said 42 people had been rescued while five casualties had been reported

.The vessel’s manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members, bringing the total number aboard to 134.

“Based on the data we have right now on rescued (42) and the casualties, we still have 87 people who are unaccounted for,” Cayabyab told a local radio station Thursday. 

Cayabyab stressed that authorities have yet to establish a final count because rescue operations remain underway.

“Just to make it clear, this is live data and may change as our search-and-rescue operations are ongoing,” she said. 

Rough seas and strong currents complicated the search after the burning vessel drifted from its original location. Thick smoke, intense heat, and the risk of explosions also hindered rescuers from entering the ferry. 

PCG vessels and high-speed response boats joined military and government vessels in the search, while private volunteers and fishermen also assisted rescuers. 

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard alerted nearby ships to watch for survivors and coordinated with coastal communities for possible sightings.

Rescue teams also used drift-modelling tools to determine where currents and winds might have carried missing passengers, while air assets remained on standby to support the operation when weather conditions permit. 

Search-and-rescue teams continued combing the waters off Coron as authorities worked to locate those still unaccounted for and determine the fate of everyone aboard the M/V June Aster.