At least five people are dead and more than 80 remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire while traveling toward a popular tourist destination.
The MV June Aster was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when the fire broke out on Wednesday evening, September14. The vessel was traveling toward Coron when it became engulfed in flames.
43 people had been rescued by the latest update, while five others were confirmed dead. Search and rescue crews were still looking for passengers and crew members who remained unaccounted for.
The emergency response became more difficult as the fire continued aboard the vessel. Coast Guard officials said the search operation was ongoing and that the fire had not yet been fully extinguished.
One survivor reportedly told rescuers that an explosion was heard coming from the ferry's hold. The area was carrying several vehicles, including five motorcycles, although authorities have not said that this was definitively the cause of the blaze.
Photos released after the incident showed the ferry heavily damaged, with much of the vessel reduced to burned remains. Rescue teams continued working around the wreckage while trying to establish how many people were still missing.
The ferry's owner, Atienza Interisland Ferries, expressed grief over the incident and said it had mobilized available resources to assist with the crisis. The company also offered condolences to the passengers, crew members and their families.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officials have not yet provided a final explanation for what triggered the blaze, and the number of missing passengers could change as authorities continue checking the passenger list and rescue reports.