A fire breaks out aboard the passenger ferry MV June Aster off western Palawan, killing at least five people and leaving 87 others unaccounted for, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
Coast Guard spokesperson Noemi Cayabyab says the ship’s manifest lists 134 people—117 passengers and 17 crew. As of Thursday, 42 people are reported rescued, while search and firefighting operations continue. Outlets also report that the ferry was near Coron, Palawan, after sailing from Manila when the fire started on Wednesday. The exact number of missing people is described as subject to change as more information becomes available.
While all reports cite the same Coast Guard figures and the same location and vessel, they differ mainly in emphasis: some lead with the casualty totals, others highlight the number of rescued survivors, and some phrase the event as “dozens” missing rather than specifying the 87 figure. None of the sources present a differing official death toll or onboard headcount beyond the Coast Guard’s reported numbers.
