FERRY FIRE OFF PHILIPPINES LEAVES DOZENS MISSING

A fire broke out aboard the MV June Aster in waters off Coron, Palawan, in the western Philippines on Wednesday night, leaving at least five people confirmed dead and more than 80 unaccounted for, according to the Philippine coast guard. Forty-two to forty-three people were rescued from the vessel, which had departed from Manila bound for Coron. Footage showed flames engulfing parts of the ferry, with responders placing victims in body bags. Coast guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the vessel's manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members, totalling 134 people on board.

The exact number of missing persons remained uncertain as rescue operations continued. One report put the figure at 87 missing, whilst another cited more than 80. Cayabyab stated that the counts might change as the recovery effort proceeded. The cause of the fire was under investigation at the time of reporting.

The incident represents one of several maritime disasters to affect the Philippines in recent years. The coast guard did not provide a timeline for when search and rescue operations would conclude or confirm whether all survivors had been located. Authorities have not disclosed whether weather conditions or mechanical failure contributed to the outbreak.