The death toll from a Philippine ferry fire has risen to 76, with 13 people still missing, after search teams recovered 41 more charred bodies from the passenger vessel off Palawan province, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The disaster unfolded after the M/V June Aster caught fire on Wednesday evening while sailing from Manila with 132 passengers and crew aboard, ending just 2.2 kilometres (1.3 miles) off its destination of Coron in northern Palawan.
Recovery Efforts and Forensic Identification Underway
Rescuers pulled 43 survivors from the water on the night of the fire. According to local media outlet the Inquirer, PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemi Cayabyab stated that survivors reported hearing successive explosions before flames swept rapidly through the passenger areas. Investigators from the Maritime Industry Authority noted that survivor accounts cited two explosions inside the vessel shortly before the blaze broke out. One survivor interviewed by GMA News recalled seeing a small amount of smoke turn into a fire that spread through the ferry within seconds.
“The wind may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, based on the survivors’ accounts,” Cayabyab said, adding that some passengers jumped into the water after seeing the fire and may not have had time to retrieve their life jackets. Firefighters entered the ferry for the first time on Friday after extinguishing the blaze, discovering burnt remains in the economy accommodation section, according to the Coast Guard. Images released by the agency showed twisted steel bed frames and ash inside the vessel.
Did You Know? The M/V June Aster was just 2.2 kilometres (1.3 miles) away from completing its journey from Manila to Coron, northern Palawan, when the lower deck blaze engulfed the vessel.
Forensic teams and local police are currently utilizing personal belongings and DNA matching to identify the dead. Thirty bodies recovered on Friday were brought to a port in Coron town, where temporary tents were set up for processing. Anelyn Magbanua, 37, whose husband was returning to Coron after visiting their children in Manila, told reporters that she anxiously awaited news at the port. “I hope he is not among the dead being brought off the ship. I hope he is alive and has only drifted to another island,” she said.
Official Investigations and Maritime Liability
Maritime officials have placed safety procedures and the ship captain’s actions during the early minutes of the disaster under formal review. “With the number of missing and the number of capacity, definitely there is liability here,” Cayabyab stated regarding the vessel’s command. Philippine Coast Guard official Geronimo Tuvilla noted during a Saturday press conference that identifying victims and determining the cause of the fire remain immediate priorities.
Questions also persisted regarding the fate of the vessel’s captain. While Cayabyab stated at the press conference that she received information indicating he was alive, his name did not appear on the official list of 43 confirmed survivors. Meanwhile, the ferry’s operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries, issued a statement committing to “full transparency” and pledging assistance to affected families with lodging, transportation, and medical care as investigations continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people were aboard the M/V June Aster when the fire started?
The ferry was carrying 132 passengers and crew members when the blaze broke out on Wednesday evening.
What caused the rapid spread of the fire according to authorities?
Investigators and Coast Guard officials noted that survivors reported hearing successive explosions and that wind may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames through passenger areas.
What is the current status of the search and rescue operation?
The death toll stands at 76 with 13 people still missing, following the recovery of additional remains by search teams and firefighters accessing the vessel’s economy accommodation section.
What measures should maritime authorities prioritize next to prevent similar ferry fires in the region?
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