Philippine ferry fire kills five, 87 missing: Coast Guard

MV June Aster burns as flames and smoke rise after a fire broke out on the ferry, off the coast of Palawan in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on Sept 9, 2026. - Reuters

MANILA: At least five people were killed and 87 remain unaccounted for after a fire erupted aboard a ferry near a tourist hotspot in the Philippine province of Palawan, the coast guard said Thursday (Sept 10)

The fire aboard the M/V June Aster broke out Wednesday evening about 2.2km) offshore, the coast guard said, adding that five casualties had been brought ashore.

People stand aboard MV June Aster as flames and smoke rise after the fire broke out. - Reuters

Video shared by the coast guard on Facebook showed the vessel completely engulfed in flames.

"Based on the data we have right now on rescued (42) and the casualties, we still have 87 people who are unaccounted for," coast guard Captain Noemi Cayabyab told a local radio station on Thursday, adding the ship's manifest had listed 134 passengers and crew.

"Just to make it clear, this is live data and may change as our search and rescue operations are ongoing," she said.

A survivor is assisted as he alights from a small boat after being rescued from the burning ferry. - Philippine Coast Guard/AP

Of those rescued, 38 were passengers and four were crew, Cayabyab said.

"However, we have not yet been able to obtain information from the rescued individuals because we have not been able to speak with them," she said, adding attempts to put out the blaze were ongoing.

Tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the June Aster had departed from Manila. - AFP