5 dead, 86 missing as ferry catches fire off Palawan, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/other/5-dead-86-missing-as-ferry-catches-fire-off-palawan/ar-AA2bYlEQ?ocid=BingNewsVerp)
11-09-2026
On Wednesday evening, September 9, 2026, a passenger and cargo roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel named the MV June Aster caught fire in waters off Coron, Palawan, in the western Philippines.Key details regarding the incident:
- Casualties and Missing: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed at least 5 deaths and 43 survivors rescued. A massive search-and-rescue operation was launched for the 86 people remaining unaccounted for.
- People on Board: According to the ship’s official manifest, 134 individuals were on board (117 passengers and 17 crew members), operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc.
- Voyage and Location: The ferry had departed from the Manila/Batangas area on Tuesday night and was approaching its scheduled arrival in Coron, Palawan, when the fire was reported around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday. It was roughly 1 to 2 nautical miles off the coast when the blaze erupted, but strong winds and heavy sea currents later pushed the burning vessel further offshore.
- Sequence of Events: Survivors reported hearing a loud explosion originating near the cargo hold, after which flames and heavy smoke rapidly tore through the ship within seconds, forcing many passengers to jump overboard into the seaseveral without life jackets.
- Response and Challenges: Responders from the Coast Guard, military, local government units, and nearby fishing vessels assisted in pulling victims from the water. Search efforts and attempts to board the charred vessel were significantly hampered by thick suffocating smoke, strong sea currents, and rough waves. Authorities are conducting an investigation into the exact cause of the blast and fire.