Five dead and 86 missing as 'heartbreaking' fire breaks out on Philippines ferry
A ferry carrying over 130 people caught fire near the Philippines' Coron tourist hotspot, resulting in at least five deaths and 86 missing. Rescue operations are ongoing despite challenges from thick smoke and strong currents.
Why it matters
This is a significant maritime disaster highlighting safety concerns in regional ferry transport and the vulnerability of passengers in remote transit areas.
Figure caption, Watch: What we know about the fatal Philippines ferry fire
At least five people have died and 86 are missing after a fire broke out on a ferry in the Philippines, the country's coastguard said.
The MV June Aster, which set off from Manila ferrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members, was nearing its destination at the tourist hotspot of Coron when it caught fire.
The blaze, which erupted at 18:45 local time (10:45 GMT) Wednesday, was still burning as of 11:00 on Thursday. The strong currents and thick smoke were a challenge to those working to extinguish it, the coastguard said.
A survivor says he was in the sea for two hours before he got rescued. "It was cold. If the rescue was delayed, I would definitely have died," Roland Lerma told the BBC.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Watch: Ferry erupts in flames off Philippines’ Palawan; 5 killed
5 Dead, Over 80 Missing As Ferry Catches Fire In Philippines
Deadly Philippines ferry fire leaves scores of people missing
Philippines ferry fire kills 5 people, dozens missing
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in