Firefighters have boarded the burned-out passenger ferry MV June Aster after smoke and extreme heat previously prevented emergency teams from accessing the vessel off Palawan in the Philippines.
Images released by the Philippine Coast Guard on Friday, 11 September showed personnel on the blackened upper section of the ferry, with several smaller boats positioned nearby. Smoke appeared to have substantially reduced as teams gained access more than a day after the fire.
Officials had not reported what the firefighters found aboard at the time of publication, including whether anybody had been located inside. Five people remained confirmed dead, 43 had been rescued and 84 were still unaccounted for.
Heat and smoke previously blocked access
The fire broke out during the evening of Wednesday, 9 September as MV June Aster approached Coron following an overnight voyage from Manila.
Rescuers reached people in the surrounding water, but intense heat, thick smoke and the risk of further explosions made it unsafe to enter the ferry. The search was halted after nightfall on Thursday because of poor visibility and difficult conditions before resuming on Friday.
Coast Guard footage subsequently showed lighter smoke rising from parts of the vessel. Reuters reported that two firefighters could be seen on an upper deck, while Associated Press said images showed personnel walking on the ship's exterior.
Gaining access represents an important step in the operation, but it should not be interpreted as confirmation that a complete search of the interior has been carried out. The Coast Guard said it was awaiting information from the team aboard.
Search continues for 84 people
The Philippine Coast Guard revised the missing-person total from 86 to 84 after two people named on the manifest contacted authorities and confirmed that they had not boarded.
The reduction therefore resulted from correcting the passenger list rather than two further rescues. The official totals remained five deaths and 43 survivors.
Five Coast Guard vessels and divers were deployed to the area, supported by army rescue boats, fishermen, private resort operators and other volunteers. Coastal patrols also checked nearby shores for anybody who may have drifted or swum towards land.
No additional survivors or fatalities had been announced following the resumed search when this report was prepared.
Cause of ferry fire remains undetermined
The Maritime Industry Authority said survivor accounts referred to two successive explosions inside the ship before the fire spread. Other survivors described smoke and flames developing extremely quickly, forcing people to jump into the sea.
Those accounts form part of the investigation but do not establish the cause. Authorities have not confirmed where the fire started or what produced the reported explosions.
The ferry was transporting vehicles and general cargo, including five motorcycles, an electric vehicle, a forklift and a pickup truck, according to the Coast Guard. No official agency has attributed the fire to any particular vehicle or item of cargo.
MV June Aster carried a manifest listing 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Officials said the vessel had passed safety inspections and was operating below its stated capacity.
Operator cooperating with investigation
Atienza Inter-Island Ferries said it was assisting passengers and their families while working with the Coast Guard and maritime authorities to locate those who remain missing and establish what happened.
The investigation is expected to examine the wreck, cargo, machinery, safety equipment, evacuation and emergency response. Conclusions should not be drawn until investigators have gathered evidence from the vessel and completed witness interviews.
All casualty, rescue and missing-person figures in this report remain provisional while the search continues.