Fire on a ferry in the Philippines: At least 5 dead and more than 80 people missing

A fire broke out Wednesday evening aboard the M/V June Aster ferry in the western Philippines, near the province of Palawan. The incident resulted in at least five deaths and 87 people reported missing.

The vessel was approximately 2.2 kilometers from shore and was heading toward Coron, a tourist destination renowned for its beaches, turquoise waters, and World War II shipwrecks.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, 42 people — 38 passengers and four crew members — had been rescued by Thursday morning. Five bodies had been brought ashore, while search and rescue operations continued, including efforts to extinguish the fire. In total, there were 134 passengers and crew members aboard.

Images released by the authorities show the vessel completely engulfed in flames and passengers evacuated onto small boats. The ferry had departed from Manila, according to MarineTraffic data.