At least five people have died and 86 are missing after a fire broke out on a ferry in the Philippines, near the tourist hotspot of Coron. The MV June Aster, which was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members, caught fire at around 10:45 GMT on Wednesday evening while it was nearing its destination from Manila. A survivor, Roland Lerma, said he floated in the sea for two hours before being rescued and added that if the rescue had been delayed, he would have died.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, but preliminary investigations suggest it may have started in the cargo hold of the ferry. Some passengers were not wearing life vests when the fire broke out, which made the rescue efforts more challenging due to strong currents and thick smoke. The Philippine Coast Guard has coordinated with nearby ships and coastal villages to search for any remaining survivors.
More than 40 people have been rescued, but many others are still unaccounted for. The Coast Guard is continuing search and rescue operations, joined by a military vessel and other government boats, private volunteers, and fishermen.
