The MV June Aster caught fire on Wednesday night 1.2 nautical miles from Coron in Palawan province. Five people have died, 86 remain missing and 43 have been rescued from the vessel that was carrying more than 100 passengers. Survivors describe chaos and a long wait in cold water before help arrived.
What happened during the MV June Aster fire
The ferry left Manila on Tuesday evening and was due in Coron the following afternoon. Fire broke out just before 18:45 local time on Wednesday while the vessel was close to shore. A loud explosion was reported in the cargo area, which held motorcycles, an electric car and other vehicles. Flames spread quickly through the ship where passengers had been sleeping in bunk beds during the long overnight journey. The MV June Aster had departed Manila's Port of Baseco on Tuesday at 20:13 local time and was scheduled to reach Coron at 18:00 on Wednesday. The fire was first reported by a staff member of Atienza Shipping Lines. The company later issued a statement saying it was cooperating fully with authorities and expressing profound sadness over the incident. The vessel was carrying several motorcycles, an electric car, a forklift, a pick-up van and other goods when the fire started. As the journey was expected to take more than 20 hours, passengers had slept on bunk beds onboard overnight. Authorities say a survivor had told them the flames had started in the cargo hold after a loud explosion. The ship had been carrying several motorcycles, an electric car, a forklift, a pick-up van and other goods, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
How survivors escaped the burning ferry
Roland Lerma, a 30-year-old construction worker from Leyte, was among those who jumped into the sea. He fell while trying to reach safety and was trampled by others before crawling to the side and leaping overboard. He floated on his back for roughly two hours after discarding his clothes and belongings. Two of his neighbours are in hospital with him in Coron; two others from the same group are still missing. Lerma said he saw children in the water but could not identify anyone in the dark. He had travelled to Manila with five neighbours before boarding the ferry for work in Coron. Lerma recalled that the two Chileans who slept in the beds next to his looked to be in their late 20s or early 30s. He said he started crawling until he could find his footing again before leaping off the vessel. When he hit the water he ditched all his possessions so that he could float. He described the water as cold and said that if the rescue had been delayed he would have definitely died. Lerma, who works in construction, is from Leyte province. He had travelled to the capital Manila with five of his neighbours, where they boarded the ferry to bring them to work at Coron, a popular tourist spot in Palawan province. Speaking to the BBC from a hospital in Coron, Lerma recalled that as the fire spread and he scrambled to get off the burning boat, he slipped and fell. When I was on the floor, people were trampling me, said the 30-year-old.
Who has been accounted for so far
Philippine Coast Guard figures list five confirmed deaths and 43 people rescued. Among the rescued are two Chilean nationals who had slept near Lerma. Search teams continue to operate, though smoke is still visible from the ferry and the fire has not been fully extinguished. Many survivors remain in shock, according to coast guard statements. A spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard said in a local television interview that many of the survivors are still in shock. The coast guard has confirmed that two Chilean nationals were among the 43 people rescued so far. Five people have died and 86 people are missing after the fire, which, in a country where shipping accidents are not uncommon, could become one of the deadliest maritime disasters the Philippines has seen. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, though authorities say the fire on the MV June Aster has still not been put out and there was visible smoke from the ferry.
How families are coping with the wait
Anelyn Magbanua is outside a Coron hospital with her two-year-old son. Her husband Marlon was returning from Manila after visiting their older children. She last spoke to him when the ferry was about two hours from port. She was woken by a relative with news of the fire and has been waiting for updates since Wednesday night. Magbanua said her husband spent a couple of days in Manila and even sent her pictures of their children. She and her son had gone to bed early expecting Marlon to be home soon. On Thursday she rushed to the hospital when she heard there was a chance her husband might be one of the rescued survivors. She said she cannot describe what she is feeling and has been crying and praying since last night. Anelyn Magbanua told the BBC that her husband Marlon was on the ferry. He was returning to Coron after visiting Manila to see two of their children who are studying at the capital. He spent a couple of days there. He even sent me their pictures, she said. She last heard from him while the ferry was passing through a village about two hours from the port in Coron. Magbanua and her two-year-old son had gone to bed early on Wednesday night expecting Marlon to be home soon. But she was woken up later that night by a relative who informed her that her husband's ferry had caught fire. On Thursday she rushed to the hospital when she heard there was a chance her husband might be one of the rescued survivors there. My two-year-old son and I are outside the hospital as we speak. We have nothing but ourselves, she told the BBC over the phone.
What the operator and authorities have said
Atienza Shipping Lines stated it is cooperating with investigators and expressed sadness over the incident. The coast guard has opened an inquiry into the cause, focusing on the cargo hold where the fire reportedly began. Operations to locate the missing continue. Authorities say a survivor had told them the flames had started in the cargo hold after a loud explosion. The coast guard continues search and rescue operations even though the fire on the MV June Aster has still not been put out. The company said in a statement on Thursday that it was co-operating fully with authorities and expressed profound sadness about the fire. A spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard said in a local television interview many of the survivors are still in shock.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were on the MV June Aster?
More than 100 passengers were aboard when the fire started. Exact passenger and crew totals are still being verified by authorities.
Where did the fire break out?
The blaze began in the cargo hold after a loud explosion, according to a survivor account relayed by the coast guard. The vessel was 1.2 nautical miles from Coron at the time.
How long did survivors stay in the water?
Roland Lerma floated for about two hours before rescue teams arrived. He said a longer delay would have been fatal given the cold conditions.
Are search operations still active?
Yes. Teams continue to search while the fire on the ferry has not yet been fully extinguished.
Which countries have citizens among the rescued?
Two Chilean nationals are confirmed among the 43 people rescued so far. Other nationalities have not been detailed in official updates.
Key takeaways
- Five people confirmed dead and 86 still missing after MV June Aster fire near Coron.
- 43 passengers rescued including two Chilean nationals.
- Fire started in cargo hold after reported explosion.
- Survivors waited up to two hours in the water before rescue.
- Search and rescue operations remain ongoing.
Outlook for the investigation
Authorities continue to gather witness statements and examine the vessel once the fire is extinguished. Families of the missing await further information from hospitals and coast guard posts in the area. [TO VERIFY: final casualty totals once all searches conclude]