Death toll from Philippines ferry fire climbs to 35, with dozens still missing
The death toll from a fire aboard the ferry MV June Aster in the Philippines has risen to 35 after the coast guard recovered 30 bodies from the wreckage, with more than 50 people still unaccounted for. The blaze broke out on Wednesday as the vessel neared the tourist destination of Coron, having departed from Manila, and matters because it stands as one of the country's deadliest recent maritime disasters, prompting an investigation into safety and emergency procedures.
More than 130 people, comprising 117 passengers and 17 crew, were aboard during the 22-hour journey; 43 were rescued, many requiring hospital treatment. Coast guard officials said most bodies were found in the sleeping quarters, and crews could not safely board the vessel until Friday because of toxic fumes and residual heat. Preliminary survivor accounts suggest the fire started in the cargo hold and that some passengers lacked life vests; investigators are examining the 2002-built ferry's cargo manifest, loading practices and crew response, despite it having passed a safety inspection in March. The operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries, said it was cooperating fully with the inquiry.
- Philippines ferry fire death toll rises to 35, over 50 still missing
- MV June Aster caught fire near Coron with 134 aboard
- Fire reportedly began in cargo hold; investigation into safety practices under way
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The fire that broke out aboard the ferry MV June Aster this week has become one of the deadliest maritime disasters the Philippines has seen in recent years. The vessel, built in 2002 and operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries, was on a 22-hour journey from Manila to the popular tourist destination of Coron when the blaze took hold. More than 130 people were on board, made up of 117 passengers and 17 crew.
Rescue efforts were hampered by the scale of the disaster: while dozens of passengers and crew were pulled to safety, many others were unaccounted for, and coast guard teams could not safely search parts of the wreckage for some time because of heat and fumes. The Philippines is a country made up of thousands of islands, so ferries are a common and often essential means of transport for both locals and tourists, which is part of why an incident of this scale has drawn such attention.
The case matters beyond the immediate loss of life because it raises questions about ferry safety standards, inspection practices and emergency preparedness on ageing vessels. Authorities and the ferry operator are now looking into how the fire started and how it spread, findings that could have implications for maritime safety rules across the country.