A blaze erupted on a passenger ferry in the waters off the western Philippines, resulting in numerous individuals being unaccounted for according to the coast guard on Thursday. Tragically, at least five individuals lost their lives. Presently, 42 individuals have been successfully rescued, with ongoing efforts to locate the remaining 87 missing persons, as stated by coast guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab during a radio interview.
The ferry, known as MV June Aster, had departed from Manila and was in close proximity to Coron in Palawan province when the fire ignited on Wednesday. Visuals from the incident depict the ferry still engulfed in flames. Coast guard personnel were seen distributing life jackets to survivors amidst the burning ferry in the background. Passengers were assisted onto smaller boats that transported them to shallower waters, with body bags positioned at a location resembling a port.
Rescuers faced challenges due to adverse weather conditions and large waves, with sea currents having drifted the ferry several nautical miles from its original position, as highlighted by Cayabyab. The ferry accommodated a total of 134 individuals, consisting of 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Cayabyab informed DZXL radio, “Based on the data that we have right now, the rescued and casualty, we are still searching for 87 people.”
The cause of the fire remains unknown, with the coast guard collaborating with the shipping company and maritime authorities to gather further information. Ferries serve as a widely used means of transportation in the Philippine archipelago. Unfortunately, maritime accidents are not uncommon due to severe weather conditions, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and inadequate enforcement of safety regulations, particularly in remote regions.
In a tragic historical reference, the ferry Dona Paz sank in 1987 after colliding with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines, resulting in over 4,300 fatalities in what stands as the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime catastrophe.