Philippine Ferry Fire: Rescuers Battle Smoke as 84 Remain Missing

Rescuers in the Philippines were attempting to board a fire-ravaged ferry on Friday, hampered by smoke and intense heat from the still-smoldering vessel. The MV June Aster, which caught fire on Wednesday evening, has left 84 people missing and at least five dead.

The ferry was drifting in waters off Palawan province, roughly 4 nautical miles (7.4 kilometers) from the village of Turda and near its destination of Coron. It appeared to have drifted closer to shore overnight. Coast guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said conditions were being assessed, with the priority being to get personnel onto the ship.

According to the manifest, 134 people were aboard — 117 passengers and 17 crew. The 53-meter (174-foot) vessel had a capacity for 306 passengers and 27 crew. Two passengers listed on the manifest later reported they had not boarded, bringing the number of missing to 84. The coast guard and other vessels rescued 43 people, some pulled from dark waters as the ferry burned.

Survivor Arnulfo Nokki Villanueva described the panic in a video broadcast by News5. "The fire quickly spread. That's when I dropped to the ground and my back was burned," he said. "I wanted to get a life jacket but failed to get one because people were stepping on me." He said he eventually escaped by jumping from a window.

Search efforts involving the coast guard, other government agencies, private volunteers and fishermen have covered nearby waters, while coastal patrols checked whether anyone might have drifted ashore. No new survivors or fatalities have been found.

Two survivors are tourists from Chile, according to Rachel Conserman, a staffer with the ship's owner, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc. They are recovering from injuries at a hospital in Coron. Conserman said no other foreigners are known to have been on the vessel.

The shipping company said in a statement that it is coordinating with the coast guard and maritime officials to locate missing passengers and is cooperating fully with authorities to determine the cause of the fire. It added that it is assisting all those on board and their families. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Coron is a popular tourist destination known for clear blue waters, limestone cliffs and rock formations. Ferries are a common mode of transport across the Philippine archipelago, and sea accidents occur frequently due to storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding and inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations, particularly in remote provinces.