Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Sep 12

Philippine Ferry Fire Death Toll Reaches 76 After Rescuers Recover 41 More Bodies

Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Sep 12

Philippine Ferry Fire Death Toll Reaches 76 After Rescuers Recover 41 More Bodies

Q: With dozens still missing, what sparked the uncontrollable inferno aboard the M/V June Aster in the Philippine sea?

The cause of the M/V June Aster fire was not yet known as rescuers searched for survivors off Palawan. Philippine Coast Guard officials said the blaze’s origin remained under investigation, and no confirmed trigger had been publicly identified. What is clear is that the fire broke out Wednesday night after the ferry left Baseco in Manila bound for Coron, then spread so intensely that rescuers could not board because of thick smoke, extreme heat and the danger of explosions. The vessel continued to emit smoke for hours and drifted overnight, hampering both firefighting and search efforts. Authorities said the ship had undergone a compliance inspection on March 10, including checks on life jackets, but that does not establish what ignited the blaze. Investigators are expected to examine possible factors such as machinery or electrical failure, fuel-related ignition, or other onboard sources, but officials had not released findings. As of the latest official update, five people were confirmed dead, 43 had been rescued, and more than 80 remained unaccounted for based on the manifest listing 117 passengers and 17 crew. Rescue teams were using multiple vessels, standby air assets and drift-modelling tools to locate missing people in waters off Coron.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 12

Forty-one bodies were recovered on Saturday from the burned June Aster, lifting the death toll to 76, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
The ferry was carrying 132 people, including 17 crew, from Manila to Coron when fire broke out Wednesday evening near Coron Island.
Forty-three people survived and 13 remain unaccounted for, though officials said the tally could change because two people on the manifest apparently never boarded.
Recovery teams were slowed by rough sea conditions that pushed the vessel nearly eight nautical miles from its initial distress location, while investigators still have not determined the cause.
Maritime accidents are common in the Philippines' 7,000-island archipelago; in January, at least 65 people died in a ferry sinking in the south.