Five dead and 86 missing after Philippines ferry fire
Foreign nationals are among those rescued after a passenger ferry caught fire while travelling to the popular tourist destination of Coron
At least five people have died and 86 remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire while travelling from Manila to the Philippine tourist destination of Coron.
The MV June Aster was carrying 134 passengers and crew when the fire broke out at around 18:45 local time on Wednesday, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
Forty-three people had been rescued by Thursday morning as search and rescue operations continued. Authorities warned that the number of people missing could change as efforts to account for those onboard progressed.
Two Chilean nationals were among those rescued, the Coast Guard confirmed, establishing an international dimension to the incident. Further information about the nationalities of other passengers has not been released.
The vessel was approaching Coron in Palawan province when the fire occurred. Coron attracts both domestic and international visitors and is particularly popular with divers because of its beaches, limestone scenery, and Second World War shipwreck sites.
Search operations continue today, with strong waves, currents, and poor weather complicating efforts around the vessel.
In other news, Manila recently declared a leptospirosis epidemic following a rapid increase in infections after recent flooding, with several city hospitals reported to be at full capacity.
Siân Yates
Siân Yates is News Editor at Voyageur Group and Editor of International Hospitals & Healthcare (IH&H). She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism, and has written across healthcare, travel, food and beverage, science and technology, and environmental topics. Her passion lies in magazine creation and editorial management.