The Philippine Coast Guard reported on Friday, September 11, 2026, that the death toll from a ferry fire off Palawan province has risen to 35 after rescuers recovered 30 bodies from the wreckage. The MV June Aster caught fire on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, as it approached its destination of Coron following a departure from Manila.
Rescuers were unable to board the 53-meter vessel until Friday, approximately 40 hours after the blaze began, due to lingering heat and toxic fumes. The Philippine Coast Guard stated that most of the deceased were recovered from the sleeping area of the ship. Images released by authorities showed a charred interior containing burnt metal, ashes, and the remains of a vehicle.
According to the vessel's manifest, there were 134 people on board, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members. The coast guard reported that 43 people were rescued, while 54 individuals remain missing. Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, a spokesperson for the coast guard, stated that agencies are currently working to identify the remains according to established procedures.
The maritime disaster involves a significant loss of life in a region where ferries are a primary mode of transport. For families, the immediate impact is the difficult process of identifying remains that authorities indicated may be unrecognizable due to the intensity of the fire, which a survivor reported spread so quickly that many could not access life jackets.
The vessel, built in 2002, had a total capacity of 333 people, though only 134 were reported on board during this voyage. The 22-hour journey from Manila to Coron is a standard transit route, and the vessel is operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries. The search and recovery operation continues to involve the Philippine Coast Guard and maritime authorities, who are now tasked with managing the remains and investigating safety protocols that were cleared as recently as March 2026.
The maritime authority's investigation will focus on potential discrepancies in the passenger manifest, cargo loading integrity, and how the crew handled emergency protocols. This scrutiny follows reports from survivors of a panicked evacuation where passengers were stepped on and others jumped from windows to escape the flames. Search efforts are ongoing to account for the dozens still missing as of Friday.