CORON, Palawan — The death toll from the devastating fire that engulfed the MV June Aster off Coron, Palawan, has climbed to 76 after rescuers recovered 41 additional bodies from the burned-out vessel, authorities confirmed.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the latest recovery operation was conducted after firefighters were finally able to gain access to parts of the ferry that had remained extremely dangerous because of intense heat and thick smoke.
The 41 bodies were recovered on September 12, adding to the remains previously retrieved from the vessel. The PCG said the bodies are being transported to Coron, where forensic teams are working to identify the victims.
The discovery has dramatically raised the confirmed death toll from the maritime disaster, which began when the MV June Aster caught fire on the evening of September 9 while sailing toward Coron.
According to the latest figures cited by the PCG, 43 people survived while 13 others remain unaccounted for. The numbers could still change as search, recovery and identification operations continue.
The vessel’s ticket manifest initially listed 134 people. Authorities later clarified that two individuals on the manifest confirmed they did not board the ferry, bringing the number believed to have actually been aboard to 132.
The fire reportedly spread rapidly, leaving passengers with little time to escape. Survivors described scenes of panic as flames and smoke swept through the vessel.
Authorities have also been examining reports that passengers heard explosions shortly before the fire intensified. The exact cause of the blaze, however, remains under investigation.
Inside the vessel, rescuers encountered extensive destruction. Coast Guard images showed accommodation areas reduced to twisted metal, ash and debris, underscoring the severity of the fire.
The recovery operation has also shifted increasingly toward the difficult task of identifying the dead. Temporary forensic facilities have been established as authorities work with relatives and collect information and DNA samples where necessary.
Families of passengers who remain missing continue to wait for confirmation of their loved ones’ fate.
Meanwhile, questions have emerged over the whereabouts and actions of the vessel’s captain. Philippine maritime authorities are coordinating with the shipping company as investigators work to establish what happened before, during and immediately after the fire.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over maritime safety in the Philippines, where ferries remain a crucial means of transportation between the country’s thousands of islands.
For now, rescuers remain focused on the remaining missing passengers while forensic teams continue the painstaking process of identifying those whose lives were lost.
With 76 fatalities confirmed and 13 people still unaccounted for, the full scale of the MV June Aster tragedy may not yet be known.
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