According to foreign media reports, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that a passenger ferry caught fire in the waters off the western Philippines, killing at least five people and leaving 43 rescued and dozens still missing. Search, rescue, and recovery operations are still continuing.

The ferry involved was the MV June Aster. It departed Manila on Wednesday (September 9) and was bound for Coron, Palawan province (on Busuanga Island). According to a preliminary list, there were 117 passengers and 17 crew members on board, 134 people in total.

At about 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, the ferry caught fire while underway. The Philippine Coast Guard said the fire was initially reported to be about 1 nautical mile off Marcilla town on the eastern side of Busuanga Island; another report said that when the ferry sent out a distress signal, it was about 4 nautical miles off Turda village in Coron, but strong currents dragged it to about 7.68 nautical miles offshore.

Video from the scene showed that when rescuers arrived, the fire was raging and the entire vessel was engulfed in flames, with parts of the hull glowing red-hot in the night. After the fire was extinguished, the ferry remained afloat but was listing; by noon, the charred hull was still smoking. Rescuers recovered five bodies from the scene and rescued 43 people.

Multiple forces took part in the search and rescue. The Coast Guard also broadcast to nearby vessels, asking them to watch for ferry passengers, and coordinated with coastal villages in case passengers drifted ashore. Severe weather, rough seas, and strong currents hampered rescue efforts, and the search and rescue continued through the night.

Authorities said they were still working to verify the exact number of missing people, but based on the preliminary passenger list, the number of missing could be high. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.