Rescue teams faced challenges on Thursday as they attempted to access a passenger ferry that had ignited and burned through the night in the western Philippines, resulting in five fatalities and 86 individuals unaccounted for, as per officials. Search and rescue efforts were temporarily suspended at nightfall and were scheduled to recommence in the morning.
To date, 43 individuals have been saved, according to coast guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab. The MV June Aster ferry remained afloat but tilted near Coron following the blaze that erupted on Wednesday evening. Smoke continued to emanate from the scorched vessel by midday on Thursday.
Cayabyab mentioned that authorities were still verifying claims of two foreign passengers onboard by cross-referencing names on the passenger list and working with local government bodies and the shipping company to ascertain the identities of the deceased, survivors, and missing persons.
The ferry, with a capacity for 306 passengers and 27 crew members, set sail from Manila and was nearing its destination in Coron, Palawan province when the shipping company reported the fire around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, as reported by the coast guard.
Efforts to access the ship have been impeded by dense smoke, with Cayabyab stating, “Our current goal is to penetrate the vessel, assess the situation, and determine the next steps.”
Later that Thursday evening, search and rescue operations were put on hold and were scheduled to resume the next morning, she added.
The cause of the fire remained unclear, with one survivor suggesting it may have originated in the cargo hold. The coast guard was collaborating with the shipping company and maritime authorities to gather more information.
A survivor recounted “a loud explosion, followed by smoke and fire,” according to Cayabyab. “As per the survivor’s testimony, the events unfolded rapidly; the fire spread within seconds.”
Rescuers contended with adverse weather conditions, with a coast guard vessel, rapid response boats, a military ship, government vessels, volunteers, and fishermen aiding in the search and rescue operation. The coast guard issued a radio alert to nearby vessels to be vigilant for ferry passengers and coordinated with coastal communities in case individuals drifted to shore.
Images from the rescue efforts on Wednesday depicted coast guard personnel distributing life jackets to survivors amid the burning ferry. Passengers were assisted onto smaller vessels transporting them to shallow waters, while body bags were arranged at what appeared to be a port.
Inclement weather and rough seas posed challenges for the rescue mission. The ferry, originally 7.4 kilometers off Turda village when it issued a distress signal, was later found 14.2 kilometers from Turda due to strong sea currents.
Coron, renowned for its pristine waters, limestone cliffs, and rock formations, is a sought-after tourist destination. Ferries are a common mode of transportation in the Philippine archipelago, where maritime accidents are not uncommon due to inclement weather, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and lax enforcement of safety regulations, particularly in remote regions.
In 1987, the Dona Paz ferry sank after colliding with a fuel tanker in central Philippines, resulting in over 4,300 fatalities in one of the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime tragedies.