Philippines ferry fire kills 5, leaves 86 missing off Coron
A passenger ferry caught fire off the Philippines, killing five and leaving 86 missing; 43 were rescued.
The MV June Aster, a 53-metre ferry, caught fire off the town of Coron in the Philippines on Wednesday evening. Survivors reported a loud explosion followed by smoke and fire that spread within seconds.
Of the 134 people on board, 43 have been rescued so far. Rescuers struggled to enter the vessel because of thick smoke.
The fire's cause remains unclear, though one survivor suggested it may have started in the cargo hold. Search and rescue operations were suspended on Thursday evening and will resume in the morning.
Bad weather and strong sea currents complicated the effort.
Why it mattersMaritime disasters raise urgent questions about vessel safety and emergency protocols. The scale of missing passengers highlights the risks of ferry travel in the region.
AustraliaAustralians travelling to or through the Philippines should be aware of safety concerns on local ferries. The incident may prompt reviews of maritime safety standards in the region.
Corroborated byperthnow.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 21 h ago
