Five dead and 86 missing as 'heartbreaking' fire breaks out on Philippines ferry

UPDATE - follow-up to Five dead and 86 missing as 'heartbreaking' fire breaks out on Philippines ferry. A fire broke out on a ferry in the Philippines, claiming at least five lives and leaving 86 people unaccounted for. The MV June Aster, which set off from Manila with 117 passengers and 17 crew members, was nearing its destination at the tourist hotspot of Coron in Palawan when the blaze erupted at 18:45 local time on Wednesday. The fire was still burning as of 11:00 on Thursday, with strong currents and thick smoke making it difficult for rescue teams to extinguish the blaze. A survivor, Roland Lerma, described his ordeal, saying he was in the sea for two hours before being rescued. 'It was cold. If the rescue was delayed, I would definitely have died,' he told the BBC. Video clips shared by the coastguard showed the vessel engulfed in flames and people being pulled out of the water into rescue boats. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with preliminary interviews with survivors suggesting it started in the cargo hold. Some passengers were not wearing life vests, which the coastguard noted as a contributing factor. Forty-three people have been rescued, but it is unclear how many have sustained injuries. Seven survivors were taken to a hospital in Culion, a larger neighbouring island with higher bed capacity and more comprehensive healthcare services. A first responder described the disaster as 'really heartbreaking', saying they had never seen anything like it in Coron. The survivors were taken to an evacuation centre in Barangay Turda, where their injuries are still unknown. The coastguard is working to locate the remaining passengers and crew, who are anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones. The incident has been described as 'heartbreaking' by those involved, with many praising the bravery of the rescue teams. Earlier report (2026-09-10 10:08): At least five people have died and 86 are missing after a fire broke out on a ferry in the Philippines, the country's coastguard said. The MV June Aster, which set off from the capital Manila ferrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members, was nearing its destination at the tourist hotspot of Coron in the province of Palawan when it caught fire. The blaze, which erupted at 18:00 local time on Wednesday, was still burning as of 11:00 on Thursday. Strong currents and poor weather made it challenging for responders to extinguish the fire. The coastguard reported that the ferry had drifted 7.68 nautical miles away from its initial distress location due to the currents. Reports from the coastguard indicated that 43 people had been rescued, but the state of their injuries remained unclear. Survivors were taken to an evacuation centre in Barangay Turda. The coastguard is investigating the cause of the fire. Anelyn Magbanua is among those anxiously waiting for news of her loved ones, whose husband Marlon was on the ferry. The ferry was originally supposed to arrive at the pier between 18:00 and 19:00 on Wednesday, but the fire broke out. The coastguard has released video clips showing the vessel engulfed in flames and people being pulled out of the water into rescue boats.