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1h ago

MV June Aster Ferry Fire Kills 76 Off Palawan

Finding 41 bodies inside the burned vessel raises the confirmed death toll to 76, prompting investigators to probe a reported cargo-hold explosion.

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Nach dem Brand auf einer Fähre in einer beliebten Touristenregion der Philippinen ist die Zahl der Todesopfer auf 76 gestiegen. Die Küstenwache teilte am Samstag mit, sie habe 41 weitere Leichen im Inneren der ausgebrannten Fähre gefunden.
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Overview

  • The passenger ferry MV June Aster caught fire on Wednesday evening about 2 kilometers off Palawan while sailing from Manila to Coron.
  • Coast Guard teams rescued 43 people and recovered 41 additional bodies from inside the vessel, bringing the official death toll to 76 from a 134-name manifest.
  • Rescuers declared the blaze extinguished roughly 30 hours after it began and then boarded the ship to continue body recovery and evidence gathering.
  • Survivors reported a loud explosion from the ferry’s cargo hold before the fire spread, and authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause.
  • The disaster highlights recurring safety and maintenance problems in Philippine inter-island ferry travel and could spur tighter inspections and regulatory action that would affect operators and island commuters.