RismadarVoice Reporters
September 10, 2026
At least five people have died, and more than 80 others remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off Palawan Island in the western Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard has said.
A major search and rescue operation is underway after the vessel, identified as the MV June Aster, caught fire while travelling from Manila to Coron, a popular tourist destination in Palawan province.
The Philippine Coast Guard said the ferry had 134 people on board, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members. At least 43 people have been rescued, while authorities continue efforts to locate those still unaccounted for.
Coast Guard officials said rescue operations have been complicated by thick smoke, intense heat and fears of possible explosions, preventing emergency teams from immediately entering the damaged vessel.
Images released by authorities showed the badly damaged ferry surrounded by smoke as rescue teams searched nearby waters for survivors. The vessel reportedly drifted away from its original position due to strong currents and winds, adding further challenges to the operation.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, with maritime authorities beginning investigations into the incident.
Ferry transportation remains a major means of travel across the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, although the country has experienced previous maritime accidents linked to safety concerns, overcrowding and enforcement challenges.
