Five dead, 86 missing in Coron ferry fire

MANILA, Philippines —  A passenger ferry caught fire off Coron in Palawan Wednesday night, leaving five dead and 86 missing.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is not discounting the possibility that other victims remain trapped inside passenger and roll-on roll-off ship MV June Aster.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said that up until 3 p.m. yesterday, there was still thick smoke emanating from the vessel.

“There is strong wind. While there is no longer any fire coming from inside the ship, we could not yet declare a fire out because there is still thick smoke. We cannot force our rescue teams to board the ship because they might suffocate,” Cayabyab said.

Rescue teams are waiting for the right time to board the vessel to investigate and check if there are survivors trapped inside.

“That is something that we do not want. We hope they were just carried by the current to nearby areas and would be found alive. But we are not discounting the possibility.”

The PCG reported 43 survivors, four of them crew members. On board the vessel when the tragedy took place in darkness were 117 passengers and 17 crew members or a total of 134.

There were reports of foreigners on board, including two Chilean nationals, but Cayabyab said they have yet to verify the information.

The MV June Aster departed the Port of Manila at 8:13 p.m. on Tuesday and was expected to arrive at the Port of Coron, Palawan at 6 p.m. the following day. But at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, fire broke out 2.2 kilometers offshore.

Cayabyab said according to the accounts of some of the survivors, there was an explosion from the cargo hold, followed by thick smoke and fire.  The vessel was reportedly carrying five motorcycles, one electric car, one fork lift, one pick-up van and essential goods such as rice and eggs.

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

Hundreds of people, desperate for news about the incident, have left comments on the Coron town mayor’s Facebook page, searching for relatives,

Hours later, the PCG told reporters that another person had been rescued, but their identity had yet to be confirmed.

“Just to make it clear, this is live data and may change as our search and rescue operations are ongoing,” Cayabyab said in the radio interview.

“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. There were no immediate reports of foreigners on board.

In January, a triple-decker ferry carrying more than 340 people sank off the southern Philippines, killing at least 52 people.

The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 sank along nearly the same route where 31 people died in 2023 after a fire broke out aboard the Lady Mary Joy 3 ferry.

A report said one of the survivors of Wednesday’s tragedy narrated that a coffin carrying his relative’s remains was in the cargo hold.

Some of the people might have panicked and jumped into the water. Some of them were reportedly not wearing life vests.

But before the ship left Manila last Tuesday, the PCG conducted a pre-departure inspection and found that the ship was compliant. 

The PCG dispatched the rescue teams within 10 minutes after it received the report of fire on the roll-on and roll-off (RORO) ship.

The MV June Aster, a steel-hulled ship built in 2002, is owned by Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc. It has the capacity to carry 306 passengers and 27 crew, including the ancillaries, or a total of 333 persons.

The shipping firm issued a statement expressing  “profound sadness and deep concern” over the fire incident. “Our absolute priority is the safety, health and well-being of everyone on board,” it said.

“We extend our most sincere sympathies and thoughts to the passengers, crew and families affected by the tragic event. We are working round the clock and have mobilized all available resources to manage this crisis,” it added.

When asked if the PCG was considering that the fire on board the ship was the work of terrorists since there was an explosion, Cayabyab said they would still investigate.

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) said that it “immediately deployed an investigation team and mobilized teams”  from its regional office to “actively coordinate with the PCG and provide assistance to the survivors.”

“MARINA extends its deepest concern and support to the passengers, crew, and their families during this difficult time. We will continue to provide updates as verified information becomes available,” it added. - AFP