Overview
- A fire tore through a ferry in the Philippines on Thursday, leaving five people confirmed dead and more than 80 unaccounted for.
- Officials have not yet identified the vessel, released a full passenger list, or given an official cause for the blaze, so casualty figures remain provisional.
- Search and rescue teams are working at the scene and in nearby waters to find survivors and recover victims.
- Relatives of those on board face uncertainty while authorities try to confirm identities and notify families.
- Initial reports from The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald were published on September 10 and further updates are expected to clarify passenger numbers, the cause and the scope of the rescue operation.