Five Killed, 87 Feared Missing As Fire Engulfs Ferry Near Philippine Tourist Hotspot

Last Updated:September 10, 2026, 06:40 IST

Five dead, 87 missing after fire on M/V June Aster ferry near Palawan, Philippines. Coast guard continues search and rescue.

Screengrab shows the ferry that caught fire off Palawan.

At least five people were killed and 87 remained unaccounted for after a fire engulfed a ferry off Coron, a popular tourist destination in the Philippine province of Palawan, the coast guard said Thursday.

The blaze broke out aboard the M/V June Aster at around 2.2 kilometres (1.3 miles) offshore on Wednesday evening, with dramatic footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard showing the vessel completely engulfed in flames.

The ferry was reportedly carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when it departed Manila for Coron.

Search And Rescue Operation Underway

Coast guard Captain Noemie Cayabyab said 42 people had been rescued so far, including 38 passengers and four crew members. Five casualties had also been brought ashore.

“Based on the data we have right now on rescued (42) and the casualties, we still have 87 people who are unaccounted for,” Cayabyab told a local radio station.

She stressed that the figures remained fluid as the search and rescue operation continued.

“Just to make it clear, this is live data and may change as our search and rescue operations are ongoing,” she said.

Cayabyab added that authorities had not yet been able to speak to the rescued passengers to gather more information, while efforts to put out the fire continued.

Tracking data from MarineTraffic showed that the June Aster had departed from Manila before the incident.

Authorities are continuing search and rescue operations in the waters off Coron as they work to establish the full extent of the incident and account for those still missing.

(With inputs from agencies)

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How many people were killed and missing after the M/V June Aster ferry fire near Coron, Philippines?

At least five people were killed and 87 remained unaccounted for after a fire engulfed the M/V June Aster ferry off Coron, Palawan, on Wednesday evening, September 9, 2026. Forty-two people were rescued, including 38 passengers and four crew members.

Where did the M/V June Aster ferry fire occur in the Philippines?

The fire broke out aboard the M/V June Aster approximately 2.2 kilometers (1.3 miles) offshore from Coron, a popular tourist destination in the Philippine province of Palawan. The ferry had departed from Manila.

What was the total number of passengers and crew on the M/V June Aster ferry?

The M/V June Aster ferry was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when it departed Manila for Coron.

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