Over 80 missing, 5 dead after ferry fire in Philippines

2 min readUpdated: Sep 10, 2026 02:58 PM IST

This photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, shows remains of ferry MV June Aster that caught fire off Palawan province, western Philippines (AP).

A massive fire aboard a ferry in the central Philippines killed five onboard on Wednesday. More than 80 remained missing till the last reports came in, reported BBC. Emergency crews have launched an extensive offshore search-and-rescue operation.

The vessel MV June Aster, carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members, was travelling from Manila to Coron in Palawan province when the fire broke out around 6:45 PM (local time). Bad weather, strong waves and currents have complicated the search. The ferry, which was still afloat after the fire was put out, had drifted farther from the coast, officials said.

People jumped off the boat in panic. Philippines Coast Guard responders managed to rescue 43 people from the water and moved them to an emergency evacuation shelter in Barangay Turda. At least five have been confirmed so far, while around 86 passengers and crew members remain missing, BBC reported.

Video shared by the coast guard showed the vessel engulfed in flames during the night as rescuers pulled survivors from the water and transferred them to smaller boats.

At least five people were killed and 87 are missing after a ferry caught fire off Palawan, Philippines, earlier today, officials said. pic.twitter.com/VEFQPqFCe9 — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 10, 2026

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the figures were still changing as operations continued. “We are continuing search and rescue operations,” she said, according to Associated Press.

Survivors told authorities the fire may have started in the cargo hold before spreading rapidly through the vessel.

Authorities said there were no immediate confirmed reports of foreign nationals on board. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with the coast guard coordinating with the ferry operator and maritime authorities.

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