CORON, PALAWAN, Philippines — Philippine rescue teams have resumed an urgent search for survivors after a devastating fire engulfed the passenger-and-cargo ferry MV June Aster off Palawan, leaving at least five people dead, 84 missing and 43 rescued in one of the country’s most alarming maritime emergencies this year.
The latest figure marks a revision from earlier reports of 86 people missing after authorities confirmed that two individuals originally listed on the vessel’s manifest were not actually on board.
But as rescuers battle thick smoke and dangerous conditions around the burned ferry, survivor accounts are raising even more troubling questions about how the disaster unfolded.
Survivor: Fire Spread Within Seconds
One survivor, Richard Marceliano, described a terrifying sequence in which a small amount of smoke suddenly turned into a raging inferno.
According to survivor accounts cited by authorities, the fire spread through the vessel with shocking speed, leaving passengers with little time to react.
Marceliano said he and other passengers spent nearly two hours floating in the sea before they were rescued.
Some survivors reportedly entered the water without life jackets as panic spread aboard the burning ferry.
Two Explosions Reported Before the Fire
The cause of the MV June Aster fire remains under investigation, but Philippine maritime authorities are examining disturbing survivor accounts that two successive explosions were heard inside the vessel before the blaze erupted.
Earlier reports indicated that at least one survivor heard a loud explosion near the cargo area before smoke and flames rapidly spread.
Authorities have not yet determined what triggered the explosions or the fire.
The ferry was carrying several vehicles, including five motorcycles, an electric vehicle, a forklift and a pickup truck, along with other cargo.
Officials have stressed that it is still too early to determine the exact cause of the disaster.
Rescuers Still Struggling to Enter the Burned Ferry
The search operation has been made even more difficult because thick smoke continues to rise from the charred MV June Aster.
Extreme heat and safety concerns have prevented rescuers from immediately gaining full access to the vessel, raising fears that the search for those still missing could become even more complicated.
The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed multiple vessels and divers, while army rescue boats, local fishermen and private resort owners have joined the massive operation.
A larger Coast Guard vessel was also expected to support the search.
The search has continued since the fire broke out on Wednesday night, with rescuers also considering the possibility that strong currents may have carried survivors far from the disaster site.
What Happened to the MV June Aster?
The MV June Aster was travelling from Baseco in Manila to Coron, Palawan, a major tourist destination known internationally for its diving sites, limestone cliffs and island-hopping attractions.
According to the vessel’s manifest, the ferry was carrying:
- 117 passengers
- 17 crew members
- 134 people originally listed on board
The fire was reported Wednesday evening as the vessel approached the Coron area.
Earlier reporting from the Philippine Coast Guard indicated that weather conditions, strong currents and high waves complicated the rescue effort.
The vessel remained afloat but heavily damaged and listing after the fire.
Ferry Had Passed Safety Inspections
One detail now drawing attention is that authorities previously said the vessel had passed safety inspections.
The Philippine Coast Guard and other maritime authorities are expected to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the tragedy.
The ferry’s owner, Atienza Inter-Island Ferries, has said it is cooperating with authorities and mobilising resources as the investigation continues.
For now, however, the biggest unanswered question remains the same:
What exactly caused the explosions and fire that turned an ordinary voyage to Coron into a desperate fight for survival?
A Country Familiar With Maritime Disasters
The tragedy has once again placed the spotlight on maritime safety in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands where millions of people depend on ferries and other vessels for daily travel.
The country has suffered numerous maritime disasters over the decades, with previous incidents often linked to rough weather, vessel maintenance problems, overcrowding and weaknesses in safety enforcement.
The search for the 84 people still missing is continuing, while investigators work to establish the exact cause of the MV June Aster fire.
For the families waiting for answers, every hour now matters.
And with survivors describing explosions, flames spreading within seconds and passengers forced into the open sea, investigators face a critical question that could define the entire tragedy: What happened aboard the MV June Aster before the fire began?
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