Philippine ferry fire death toll rises to 35 as search continues

The Big Picture

Philippine rescuers have recovered 30 additional bodies from the burned MV June Aster ferry, raising the confirmed death toll from a fire off Palawan to 35. The Philippine Coast Guard said 43 people were rescued, many of whom were receiving hospital treatment, while 54 people remained unaccounted for.

The recovery marked a grim advance in an operation that had been hindered for nearly two days by toxic fumes, thick smoke and extreme heat inside the vessel. Officials have warned that additional bodies may remain aboard as recovery and identification work continues.

What Happened

The MV June Aster caught fire on Wednesday evening, Sept. 9, while travelling from Manila to Coron, a tourist destination in Palawan. The vessel's manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members, though the coast guard said two people listed had not boarded.

Rescuers were unable to enter the burned ferry until about 11:30 a.m. local time Friday, or 03:30 GMT, roughly 40 hours after the blaze began. Coast guard spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab said smoke and high temperatures remained a serious risk to personnel trying to access the hull.

After teams boarded, they found most of the recovered bodies in the ferry's sleeping or economy-accommodation area. The bodies were brought to a port near Coron, where they were to be transferred to forensic investigators for identification, according to the coast guard.

The number of missing people has changed during the operation as officials reviewed the manifest and recovery figures. Earlier reports put the number unaccounted for above 80; officials now say 54 people are missing.

Search and Rescue Effort

The coast guard has widened its search area, deployed vessels, conducted aerial surveys and used drift-modelling tools to identify waters where people could have been carried by currents. The burned ferry drifted from its original location overnight because of wind and currents, complicating rescue efforts.

Two Chilean nationals were among those rescued, according to Aileen Ausente, a coast guard spokesperson in Palawan. Coast guard accounts also said some survivors were not wearing life vests.

Survivor Roland Lerma told the BBC that passengers panicked as they tried to escape. He said people trampled him after he fell while attempting to leave the vessel, before he managed to jump into the sea. “If the rescue had been delayed, I would definitely have died,” he said.

Investigation Under Way

Preliminary interviews with survivors indicate the fire began in the cargo hold, according to the coast guard. Cayabyab said survivors described hearing a loud explosion, followed by smoke and a fire that spread within seconds.

Authorities are investigating the cause and circumstances of the fire, including possible discrepancies in the passenger manifest, cargo-loading integrity and the crew's emergency-response procedures. The ferry was carrying goods as well as vehicles, according to the Guardian.

The vessel's operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries, has said it will fully cooperate with the inquiry. The BBC reported that the ferry was built in 2002, held valid safety certificates and passed an enforcement inspection in March, citing reported investigation details.

What Happens Next

Authorities are focused on recovering and identifying the dead while continuing the search for those still missing. Investigators will also seek to establish how the fire began, how quickly it spread and whether safety and emergency procedures were followed aboard the vessel.

For families awaiting news, the identification process may be the next painful stage of a disaster whose toll could still rise.