At least five people have died and 86 remain unaccounted for after fire engulfed the passenger ferry MV June Aster off Coron in Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard has confirmed.
Forty-three people had been rescued by Thursday evening, 10 September. The figures remain provisional while the authorities reconcile the vessel's manifest with survivors, casualties and people who may have reached shore or been recovered by other boats.
The ferry was carrying 134 people — 117 passengers and 17 crew members — on a voyage from Manila to Coron when the operator reported the fire at about 6.45pm local time on Wednesday, 9 September.
Fire reported as ferry approached Coron
MV June Aster was nearing its destination when the emergency began. The 53-metre vessel was approximately four nautical miles from the village of Turda when it sent a distress signal, according to the Coast Guard.
Strong currents subsequently carried the damaged ferry farther offshore. By Thursday, it was reported to be listing approximately 7.68 nautical miles from Turda, with smoke still rising from the burnt vessel.
Coast Guard personnel found access difficult because of thick smoke. Search teams were attempting to enter the ship to assess conditions and determine whether anybody remained aboard, while other vessels continued looking across the surrounding water and coastline.
Search-and-rescue operations were suspended after nightfall on Thursday because of poor visibility and difficult sea conditions, with the Coast Guard saying they would resume in the morning.
Multi-agency search for missing passengers
A Philippine Coast Guard ship and high-speed response boats were joined by a military vessel, other government craft, volunteers and local fishermen.
The Coast Guard also broadcast an alert asking ships in the area to look out for people from the ferry. Coastal communities were contacted in case survivors had drifted or swum towards shore.
Bad weather, large waves and strong currents complicated the operation. Images released during the response showed rescuers transferring survivors into smaller boats as the ferry burned nearby.
The missing-person total is calculated from the manifest and the number of people so far accounted for. Such figures can change during an active maritime search as duplicate reports are removed, the passenger list is checked and people rescued independently are identified.
Cause of the fire remains under investigation
The cause has not been established. A survivor told officials of hearing a loud explosion before smoke and flames spread rapidly, but investigators have not confirmed where or how the fire started.
The Coast Guard said it was working with the ferry company and maritime authorities to gather further information. The vessel's owner, Atienza Interisland Ferries, said it was cooperating with the emergency response and deploying available resources.
MV June Aster was not reported to have been operating above its stated capacity. The manifest listed 134 people aboard, while the vessel was authorised to carry 306 passengers and 27 crew members. Capacity alone does not establish whether all safety and operating requirements were met, and the formal investigation will need to examine the vessel, its cargo, emergency response and relevant records.
Passenger ferry link to Palawan
The overnight service linked Manila with Coron, one of the Philippines' best-known tourism destinations. Ferries are an essential part of the transport network across the country's thousands of islands, carrying residents, visitors, vehicles and freight between communities that may have limited alternatives.
The scale of the continuing search makes the incident one of the most serious passenger-shipping emergencies in the region this year. The immediate priority remains finding those who are unaccounted for and supporting survivors and affected families.
All casualty and rescue figures in this report reflect the latest publicly confirmed information available on 10 September 2026 and may change as the operation continues.