Five dead on ferry fire near Palawan; dozens missing

Five dead. Dozens missing. That is the grim tally emerging from a fire on a ferry near Palawan. The country's coastguard confirmed the tragedy Wednesday evening off the coast of a popular tourist spot. At least five people have died, while 87 others remain unaccounted for as search teams work through the smoke and water.

The vessel involved was the M/V June Aster. It had roughly 2.2 kilometers offshore when flames tore through it. The ship carried 134 passengers and crew members according to its manifest. Five casualties were brought safely to shore by rescue crews. A video shared on Facebook showed much of the boat engulfed in fire, a terrifying sight for anyone watching.

Coastguard Captain Noemi Cayabyab spoke to local radio stations Thursday morning. She said 42 people had been rescued so far. Of those survivors, 38 were passengers and four belonged to the crew. The numbers are fluid though. "This is live data and may change," Cayabyab noted regarding the ongoing search and rescue operations. Her team has not yet spoken with many of the rescued individuals due to the chaos at the scene.

Reports from Reuters indicated 43 people were safe as Wednesday night closed out. The ferry had departed Manila earlier that day. It was sailing toward Coron in Palawan province when disaster struck. No official reports have explained what sparked the blaze. Fire investigators are likely still looking for answers.

Sea accidents happen often in the Philippines. This archipelago of over 7,000 islands faces constant threats from monsoon rains and fierce typhoons that turn travel into a gamble. Poor maintenance and overcrowding frequently play a role in these tragedies. Spotty enforcement of safety rules also adds to the danger. A similar disaster occurred in January when a ferry with more than 350 people sank off Baluk-baluk island, killing at least 18 souls. The community there is still seeking answers about flood control funds and other issues while families wait for news on their missing loved ones.