MV June Aster burns as flames and smoke rise after a fire broke out on the ferry, off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on September 9, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
At least five people were killed and dozens of people missing in a fire that broke out on a passenger ferry in waters off the western Philippines, the Coast Guard said on Thursday (September 10, 2026).
So far, 42 people have been rescued, and efforts are ongoing, so the count of 87 people missing may change, Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said in a radio interview.
People stand aboard MV June Aster as flames and smoke rise after a fire broke out on the ferry, off the coast of Palawan, Philippines.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
The ferry, MV June Aster, had sailed from Manila and was near Coron in Palawan province when the fire started on Wednesday (September 9, 2026).
Ms. Cayabyab said that 134 people were on board, 117 passengers and 17 crew.
Images from the scene showed coast guard personnel tossing life jackets to survivors as the ferry burnt in the background. Small boats also took survivors into shallow water.
In this image provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a survivor is assisted as he alights from a small boat after being rescued from a burning ferry off Palawan province, Philippines.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Ferries are a common transportation method in the Philippine archipelago. Sea accidents are not uncommon due to storms, badly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.
Published – September 10, 2026 09:37 am IST
