Overview
- A fire that officials say started in the M/V June Aster’s cargo hold consumed the passenger ferry within seconds as it sailed near Coron, Palawan.
- Authorities have given conflicting casualty figures: early reports cited about 35 dead and 54 missing, while a later official update reported 76 dead and 13 missing.
- Rescue crews have pulled dozens of survivors from the water and recovered multiple bodies across several operations, and search efforts are ongoing.
- Investigators are seeking the ship’s captain for questioning and have said they may pursue negligence charges against the crew as they probe how the blaze spread so quickly.
- The ferry was carrying mixed cargo including an electric vehicle, a pickup and motorcycles, and officials warned that manifest irregularities and lax safety oversight could complicate final counts and accountability.