Five people have died and more than 80 remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off Palawan island in the western Philippines on Wednesday night, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The fire broke out aboard the MV June Aster in waters off Coron, Palawan, with 43 people rescued later that night, the PCG said on Thursday.
Footage released by the Coast Guard showed flames engulfing sections of the vessel, while emergency responders were seen carrying bodies in body bags.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab told DZXL radio that the ferry’s manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members.
Based on the number of survivors and confirmed fatalities, more than 80 people were still unaccounted for. Cayabyab warned that the figures could change as rescue teams continue searching the area.
The ferry had departed from Baseco in Manila and was travelling towards Coron when the fire broke out, she said.
The cause of the fire has not been established and remains under investigation as the search and rescue operation continues.
