Five dead, 87 missing after fire breaks out on Philippines ferry

At least five people are confirmed dead and 87 remain missing after a fire broke out aboard the M/V June Aster ferry off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, according to Al Jazeera's reporting. The blaze erupted at 18:45 local time Wednesday, September 9, approximately 2.2 kilometers (1.3 miles) offshore near Coron, and was still burning as of 11:00 Thursday morning, per BBC News. The ship's manifest listed 134 passengers and crew aboard. Preliminary interviews with survivors suggest the fire started in the cargo hold, according to BBC reporting. The coastguard noted that strong currents and thick smoke presented challenges to those working to extinguish the fire. Some passengers were not wearing life vests, the coastguard said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. One survivor, Roland Lerma, described floating in the sea for two hours before rescue. "It was cold. If the rescue had been delayed, I would definitely have died," Lerma told BBC News. Captain Cayabyab stated that "this is live data and may change, as our search and rescue operations are ongoing," according to Al Jazeera's reporting. A ferry carrying more than 350 people sank off Baluk-baluk island in January 2026, killing at least 18. In 2023, 31 people died after a fire broke out aboard the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 in the country's southwestern region.