At least five people have been confirmed dead and 87 remain missing after a catastrophic fire engulfed a passenger ferry carrying 134 people off the coast of Palawan, a popular tourist island in the Philippines.
Citing the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), international news outlets reported that the vessel, named MV June Aster, caught fire on Wednesday (September 9, 2026). The ferry was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members—a total of 134 people—en route from the capital city of Manila to Coron Island in Palawan, when a sudden fire broke out mid-sea and rapidly engulfed the entire ship.
Search and rescue units from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy deployed immediately upon receiving distress signals to execute a joint rescue operation. Rescue teams have safely pulled 42 survivors from the sea and transported them ashore. However, rough sea conditions, adverse weather, and strong currents are severely hampering ongoing operations to locate the 87 individuals who remain missing. Maritime authorities have launched a high-level investigation to determine the root cause of the blaze.
