CORON, Philippines — The death toll from a fire aboard a passenger ferry in the western Philippines has risen to 76, the Coast Guard said, after rescuers recovered dozens more remains from the burned-out vessel. Thirteen people remained unaccounted for as identification work began in Palawan.
The M/V June Aster was carrying 132 people, including 17 crew, from Manila to Coron when fire broke out Wednesday, Sept. 9, near the end of a more than 20-hour voyage. Coast Guard officials said the blaze started in the cargo hold and spread through the ship within seconds. Forty-three people survived. Two people listed on the manifest had not boarded.
Recovery was slowed by rough seas that pushed the vessel nearly eight nautical miles from its initial distress position. Rescuers first found five bodies, then 30 more. On Saturday they recovered 41 additional remains, bringing the confirmed toll to 76, Commodore Noemi Cayabyab said. “This figure may still change as recovery and identification operations continue,” she added.
Forensic teams set up tents at a Coron port as workers carried black body bags from a Coast Guard vessel. Relatives waited nearby for news. Anelyn Magbanua, 37, whose husband was returning to Coron after visiting their children in Manila, said she hoped he had drifted to another island rather than being among the dead.
Maritime accidents are frequent in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands. In January, at least 65 people died when another ferry sank in the south. Officials have pledged a full investigation into possible mechanical failure, cargo conditions, and emergency procedures on the June Aster.
Vigils and temporary burials have begun in Coron, a tourist gateway. Churches and community halls have opened to grieving families. Mental-health workers have been sent to support survivors, first responders, and relatives. Online fundraising and messages of condolence have circulated widely.
Lawmakers and safety advocates are pressing for tighter inspection of inter-island ferries, better fire suppression in cargo areas, and clearer evacuation drills. Authorities say reforms will be considered once investigators finish reviewing logs, wreckage, and witness accounts.
No change can restore the lives lost. Officials say the names and stories of the dead will be recorded as identification is completed, and that the inquiry is meant to reduce the chance of another fire at sea. Search and recovery operations were still underway this week.
