CORON, Palawan — The death toll from the devastating MV June Aster ferry fire off Coron, Palawan has climbed to 35, after rescuers recovered 30 more bodies from the burned-out vessel.
The Philippine Coast Guard said 54 people remain unaccounted for, while 43 survivors have been rescued, as authorities continue the search, recovery and identification operations following Wednesday evening’s deadly blaze.
The latest development came after rescue teams were finally able to board the severely damaged vessel. Earlier efforts had been hampered by intense heat and thick smoke.
The 30 recovered bodies were found in the economy accommodation area of the ferry, according to the Coast Guard. The remains were transferred from the vessel and brought toward Coron for forensic examination and identification.
Authorities have warned that the casualty figures could still change as the recovery operation continues.
Fire spread within seconds
The MV June Aster was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members, according to its manifest, for a total of 134 people listed aboard. Two people later told authorities they had been listed on the manifest but had not actually boarded, affecting the number of people officially being sought.
The ferry was traveling toward Coron, Palawan, when the fire broke out at about 6:45 p.m. on September 9.
Survivors told authorities that they heard an explosion before smoke and flames rapidly spread through the vessel. Coast Guard officials said the fire appeared to have moved so quickly that some passengers did not even have enough time to retrieve life jackets before abandoning the ship.
One survivor described jumping from a window after the flames spread, while others were forced into the sea amid the chaos.
The precise cause of the fire has not yet been established.
Authorities are investigating the survivors’ accounts, including reports that the blaze may have originated near the cargo area. The Philippine Coast Guard has not declared a final cause, and speculation about sabotage or other causes should not be treated as established fact.
Rescue operation expands
The Philippine Coast Guard, military personnel, local responders, fishermen and other civilian groups have taken part in the search for those still missing.
The operation was initially complicated by smoke, extreme heat and difficult conditions that prevented responders from safely entering the vessel. Once the fire was declared extinguished, authorities conducted a safety assessment before beginning the recovery of remains.
The Coast Guard has also deployed vessels and other resources while authorities work to account for every passenger and crew member.
Families of those missing have gathered in Coron and other areas awaiting information about their loved ones.
Two Chilean tourists among survivors
Two Chilean nationals were among those rescued and were receiving treatment in Coron, according to reports citing the ferry operator. Authorities were continuing to verify information about other possible foreign nationals aboard the vessel.
The ferry’s operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., said it was cooperating with authorities and assisting affected passengers, crew members and their families as the investigation continues.
Questions over maritime safety return
The tragedy has once again placed maritime safety in the Philippines under scrutiny.
Ferries remain an essential form of transportation in the country’s island communities, but the Philippines has experienced a long history of deadly maritime accidents.
The latest disaster comes months after the sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 in January, which killed at least 52 people, while the 2023 Lady Mary Joy 3 ferry fire killed 31 people. The country’s worst maritime disaster was the 1987 MV Doña Paz collision, which killed more than 4,300 people.
Importantly, the Philippine Coast Guard said the MV June Aster had undergone a vessel safety inspection in March 2026 and was found compliant with safety requirements at that time. That inspection does not determine the cause of the current disaster, which remains under investigation.
The search is not over
With 35 confirmed dead and 54 people still missing, authorities continue to search the vessel and surrounding waters while forensic teams work to identify recovered remains.
The immediate priority remains clear: account for every person who was aboard the June Aster and determine exactly how the fire spread so quickly.
But as families wait for answers, a much larger question is emerging from the tragedy:
How could a ferry that had recently passed a safety inspection become engulfed in flames so quickly—and could the disaster have been prevented?
That question will now be at the center of the investigation.
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